The Highland Council has supported plans for a 67-turbine wind farm.

Following a meeting regarding the proposals yesterday, councillors voted 11 to three in favour of raising no objection.

SSE Renewables had sought permission for up to 83 turbines to be constructed at Stronelairg, near its Glendoe hydro electric scheme above Fort Augustus.

Councillors made a visit to the site before debating the proposal at a meeting of the south planning applications committee.

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The Council had recommended that its councillors did not oppose the project, if certain planning conditions were agreed.

One of the conditions included reducing the number of turbines to 67.

The John Muir Trust, which owns and manages land in the highlands and islands of Scotland, and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland had urged councillors to raise an objection.

Following the decision, Helen McDade, John Muir Trust’s Head of Policy, said: "We are disappointed that the majority of councillors chose to ignore expert opinion from bodies which include Scottish Natural Heritage, the Cairngorms national park, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and the John Muir Trust."

Ms McDade added that the Trust would "strongly urge the Scottish Government to heed the views of those members of its own party on the council who voted to object to this development."

The Scottish Government will have the final ruling on the proposals.

(JP/CD)