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Press Release
Ross Shire Journal Poll
Despite their vastly superior financial and propaganda resources, the developers have failed to win a convincing victory in this poll. If the scheme is not rejected outright, there is no question that a public enquiry is now called for. The people of Achnasheen and Garve deserve that the truth be told.
With over 3,000 votes cast the poll clearly went far beyond the local community. At the end of the first week, when locals were voting, our position was being upheld 60% to 40%. Since then the developers managed to weaken this result with the help of international renewable energy groups who were voting not on this windfarm but the benefits of national carbon reduction. Whilst we do not disagree with their aims, what these groups have failed to grasp is the huge environmental and economic damage that these proposals at Lochluichart will actually cause.
The objectors group exists to protect the environment of Ross Shire. To some commentators this has been construed as NIMBYism, yet those same commentators have condemned our international support as irrelevant. This nonsensical position is designed to hide the true motive behind this development, vast profits for Koop, Savills and Lochluichart Estate directly at the expense of the local area. Any support for the developers comes purely from the misinformed, the coerced or those contractors who stand to make a profit.
LZN is currently hinting at a community compensation figure of around £130,000 per annum compared to this time last year when sums of £300,000 per annum were bandied around. Half of any final sum will go directly to the Highland Council and the remainder will be shared between local Community Councils. Working on a generous basis the people of Achnasheen and Garve are likely to receive no more than £40,000 per annum. This compares to £850,000 that the local objecting estates spend in the vicinity every year. There is no way that compensation of this nature will offset the substantial damage that will be done to the local tourist economy.
We would like to thank the over 1,500 supporters who have kept the objectors in the lead for the majority of this poll and over 2,000 more who have already objected to the Highland Council and Scottish Executive. The battle is not over and we would encourage anyone who cares about the scenery, wildlife and people of Ross Shire to register their objection by post or through our website.
14 December 2006
