Objectors in 'David and Goliath' struggle to halt Perthshire wind farm scheme
Perthshire residents are campaigning against a wind farm project which they describe as 'the industrialisation of a precious mountain landscape'.
The proposed Glen Lednock Wind Farm, on the Invergeldie Estate near Comrie, adjacent to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, comprises 19 wind turbines with a blade tip height of up to 200 metres.
Objectors this week insisted that company Low Carbon's application would be a major visual intrusion in a scenic part of Highland Perthshire.
They have formed a Save Glen Lednock group and urged objectors to submit comments before a consultation deadline of Monday July 20.
Comrie objector David Spaven commented: 'It's a bit of a David v Goliath struggle, fighting a big multi-national company – but remember that David won.
'With the combination of raised community awareness and a professional report we've commissioned, we're quietly optimistic that we can stop this destructive scheme which amounts to the industrialisation of a precious mountain landscape'.
Save Glen Lednock steering group member, engineer Martin Downing – who has worked on a number of other windfarm developments across Scotland – commented: 'I'm happy to see wind farms in the right places, but Glen Lednock is not the right place.
'The development would be a major visual intrusion in a scenic part of Highland Perthshire which is currently devoid of wind farms.
'The site is less than three miles from The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and the National Scenic Area along Strathearn.
'It would be visible from the paths up Ben Vorlich, Ben Chonzie and Ben Lawers, three of the most popular Munros in Scotland.
'The route of the proposed eight-mile access road from the A85 up Glen Lednock is appalling.
'The 30-feet-wide road corridor would destroy beautiful Carraglen, one of the loveliest parts of Strathearn.
'Many local people know next to nothing about this proposal, so we're getting out and about to raise awareness and encourage folk to make their own individual objections.'
Fellow objector Alastair Forsyth also pointed to the intrusive visual impact of Low Carbon's proposal.
He said: 'The spinning blades of the turbines would be visible from multiple locations, including Polinard Common in Comrie, Dalginross Roman Fort, the B827 Langside road, Torlum, MacRosty Park Crieff, Knock of Crieff, Schiehallion, Ben Lomond, and many, many more.
'And there would be a massive day-to-day impact on the residents of Glen Lednock.
'And immediately adjacent to the glen there is yet another wind farm proposal – in Glen Tarken. The cumulative impact of up to 31 turbines would be disastrous for a peaceful, mountainous landscape which is much enjoyed by walkers and climbers.'
Save Glen Lednock have set up a Facebook page and are hosting a drop-in information-sharing session from 10.30am to noon on Friday July 11 at the White Church Community Centre in Comrie.
Low Carbon state on the Glen Lednock Windfarm website: 'We recognise that the development of wind energy can cause disruption and damage.
'We are committed to taking every step to make sure that the potential negative impacts of any wind development on one of our estates are avoided or minimised where possible.
'We also make sure that any such developments are integrated into a wider masterplan for the site which delivers environmental restoration at scale, creating significantly more positive impacts than negative ones.
'While we recognise that this is not a perfect solution, we don't believe we have the luxury of finding perfect solutions, and we believe that we owe it to the next generation to do what we can to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
JD Vance arrives in Scotland weeks after President Donald Trump's visit
Security measures are in place VP TOUCHDOWN JD Vance arrives in Scotland weeks after President Donald Trump's visit Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VICE President JD Vance has arrived in Scotland just weeks after Donald Trump's visit. His plane - Air Force Two - has landed at Prestwick Airport as he continues his UK holiday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 JD Vance has arrived in Scotland Credit: PA 6 Air Force Two landed at Prestwick Airport Credit: AFP 6 He is staying in Scotland as part of his UK Holiday Credit: PA 6 A fleet of SUVs from his motorcade were waiting on the tarmac Credit: AFP 6 Plane-spotters gathered to watch the jet carrying the VP come into land Credit: Getty Another one of the iconic US planes touched town as part of his visit. Plane-spotters gathered at the airport to get a glimpse of the blue-and-white jets coming in to land. A fleet of black SUVs from the VPs motorcade were pictured waiting near the plane. Vance exited the plane and was pictured waiting by the vehicles before setting off. The White House number two is set to stay at the Carnell Estate near Kilmarnock when in Scotland. He has arrived from England where he spoke with troops at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The VP also stayed at Chevening House - the official residence of Foreign Secretary David Lammy - in Kent last week. JD Vance's visit comes just weeks after President Donald Trump visited his Scottish golf courses. Mr Trump visited his Turnberry course in Ayrshire and opened a new course at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire. Cops have ramped up security around the country estate for the Vance's visit. Britain must avoid 'very dark path' of silencing free speech, warns Trump's No2 JD Vance as he meets with David Lammy Airspace restrictions have been put in place around Carnell Estate, near Kilmarnock, between 9am yesterday and midnight on Sunday. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun. is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun.
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Stunning Cotswolds village with its own sandy beach and lagoon – miles from the English seaside
Plus, other places you can explore in the Cotswolds DIVE IN Stunning Cotswolds village with its own sandy beach and lagoon – miles from the English seaside Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AS IF the Cotswolds wasn't already one of the most idyllic destinations in the country, one village in the region also has a sprawling beach. Quaint villages with old brick bridges crisscrossing rivers and streams are usually the images that come to mind when thinking of the Cotswolds. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Cotswolds Country Park and Beach features an actual beach and swimming lagoons Credit: Facebook/Cotswold country Park and Beach 6 The beach features shallow lake swimming, and then you can also hire a boat to explore the rest of the lake Credit: Facebook/Cotswold country Park and Beach 6 Or you can go kayaking and skateboarding as well Win one of 8 incredible holidays to the Caribbean, Mexico and Greece by voting in The Sun's Travel Awards - enter to win here But near the village of Somerford Keynes in Cirencester is Cotswold Country Park and Beach, which even has its own beach and swimming lagoons. The destination is loved for having lots of things to do, according to multiple Google reviews. This includes a Main Beach Swimming destination and Paddling Lagoon. The sandy beach is long-stretching and it is backed by grassy areas ideal for picnics. Visitors can head here for a paddle or sunbathe, with views of families on pedalo swans on the open lake. Conveniently, the Beach Shack is also nearby, serving light bites, and there is an Ice Cream Hunt just behind the beach too, for a cool treat on a hot day. For those really wanting to get out on the water for a bit of active fun, visitors can hire kayaks or stand-up paddleboards for £10 per 30-minute session. Mini boats, pedalo swans and rowing boats are all available for hire too, costing £10 per 30 minutes. For families that prefer to stay on dry land, they can head to the mini golf which costs just £5 per play or for the same price, you could test out the climbing wall. Visit the idyllic wine making centre of the Cotswolds For younger visitors, there are two children's playparks to explore. After the fun, you could enjoy a BBQ in the designated area as well. Arguably the most exciting attraction at the park though, is AquaVenture - a giant inflatable course sat right on the water. For anyone who wants to experience AquaVenture, there will be a 10-minute briefing before a 50-minute session. Visitors can slip and slide about, or even catapult themselves off of a giant air bag. Pooches don't have to be left out either, as they are allowed in the park - just not on the beach and in the water. Though, the park does schedule regular doggy swim events. One recent visitor said: "It was great to see so many children enjoying being in the water in a safe environment where parents can relax and keep an eye on them. 6 Also at the park, is a giant inflatable course Credit: Facebook/Cotswold country Park and Beach 6 It includes slides and a giant air bag Credit: Facebook/Cotswold country Park and Beach "We managed a paddle and the water was pleasantly warm. We will definitely visit again as a family." Each session costs £15 per person, and wetsuits and aqua socks are available for hire as well. Admission varies depending on the time of year, but for high season pedestrians and cyclists can access the park from £5 per person and a car of up to five people costs from £18.18 - around £3.64 each. Whilst in the area, you could also check out Cotswolds Lake Brew Co, which features quiz nights and an outdoor beer garden with wooden palettes tables and straw bales as benches. Just steps away from the brewery is the Cotswolds Sculpture Park, which costs £10 to enter, and there are an array of different artworks to explore. If you have a few grand spare, you could purchase one of the sculptures as well. There are a lot of holiday homes in the area too, with many sitting at the edge of a lake. What else can you do in the Cotswolds? THE Cotswolds are full of amazing places to explore, here are some spots for inspiration. Villages to explore: Beyond the popular Diddly Squat Farm, visitors can explore nearby villages like Churchill, Kingham, Charlbury and Chipping Norton, which has a theatre, lido and cinema. Activities and Attractions: The Cotswolds offers a variety of activities, including hiking, visiting the Cotswold Motoring Museum, touring the Cotswold Distillery and relaxing at Cotswold Country Park and Beach. Unique local traditions include river football in Bourton-on-the-Water and cheese-rolling at Coopers Hill. Dining and Drinking: The region is home to many pubs and restaurants, from traditional pubs like The Chequers at Churchill to Michelin-starred establishments. The Hook Norton Brewery, operating since 1849 offers tours and tastings. Historical and Cultural Sites: History enthusiasts can visit the Great Rollright Stones, a Neolithic stone circle, while art lovers can attend crafting workshops at Larksworld. Events: The Cotswolds host several major events, including The Big Feastival, Cheltenham Races, and festivals at Blenheim Palace. The Cotswolds is not the only unlikely location to find a beach in the UK - another can be found in London, right next to a pub. Plus, a popular English beach town has launched a new ride in time for summer.
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Daily Record
Couple live in caravan and work just two days a week to save thousands
A couple have revealed how they manage to work just two days a week by spending a mere £330-a-month living in a caravan. Rachel Hale, 39 and her husband Lewis, 35, have been full-time residents of a campsite in Anglesey, Wales since March 2024, after deciding they "didn't want all our money going on bills". In April 2023, the pair sold their three-bedroom home in Lancaster, Lancashire for £130,000 and bought a £30k campervan to travel around the UK for a year, reports North Wales Live. As their savings started to dwindle, they found jobs at the site through a Facebook group and have since upgraded to a £15k caravan. With no rent or bills to pay as their pitch on the site is included in Lewis' job as a campsite warden, they save a full wage every month and estimate they will have saved £8,000 this year by October. Rachel, a cook, said: "We got a campervan in March 2022. We were going away every weekend when we could and I just didn't want to come home. "We had some savings and decided to sell up and do a year travelling around the UK. Last year we got our jobs as wardens. "Literally anyone could do it, you can pick up a caravan for £1,000 and pick up a job. We've got the caravan and a massive field to ourselves. "The job is March to October so you get four months off. We will probably have saved about £8,000 for this year. "We're only half an hour away from Snowdonia so we tend to go there a lot. We have days out in Anglesey, and I love wild swimming so we'll go to local beaches". They decided to sell their property after originally following the traditional family route. Rachel revealed: "We had a miscarriage, then a still birth, then tried to conceive for two years and couldn't. "You have to have been trying for two years before they send you down the fertility route, but after the two or three years we'd had enough and wanted to enjoy life again." Rachel previously worked as a chef at a local hospice whilst Lewis was employed as a mental health support worker, landing their new roles last year through a Facebook group. Both originally worked one day weekly on a part-time basis, but after discovering it was better suited to a single person, Rachel switched to become a chef at a nearby café. She said: "It involves doing reception and check-ins, most of it is maintenance like strimming and weeding, and cleaning the facilities. "This year now I work in a local cafe two days a week, and Lewis still works as a warden two days a week. Sometimes we think should we go to different campsites and travel around a bit more, but we've got it made here. "We live off Lewis' wage in season and save my wage, and then we've got that to travel with. We each earn £1,000 per month." With such minimal expenses, the couple spend just over £300 monthly. Rachel noted: "We don't pay anything for rent or bills as it's included. "It's just gas for the cooker we pay for, that's £8.75 per month. For our laundry we have to go and do that on site, that's £12 per month." The monthly food shop represents the couple's biggest outgoing at an average of £240 per month. Rachel said: "We are lucky to have five days off per week. The downsides are not actually being able to travel between March and October. "You've got to go and fill your water tank as there's no running water and empty the toilet. But you just get used to it. "The pros are the freedom it gives us. Being able to have all this spare time to go hiking and exploring, just living out in nature I love it. "I know some of our friends say they couldn't do it because of the small space. In our house, we had a man cave, I had a spare room for a walk-in wardrobe but we just got used to the smaller space, it's all worth it. "We sold most of it and were just left with the minimum amount of clothes we needed for the van. My dad, Chris, died last year and he left us a bit of money so we used that to buy the caravan". The couple are careful with their money, never going over Lewis' monthly wage and sometimes choosing to park in roadside lay-bys or car parks rather than paying for campsites during their days off. "We're going to keep doing this as long as we can. "Eventually we see ourselves going up to a static caravan, but I can't see ourselves ever going back to house life because we'd have to get full-time jobs. I think we'll keep doing this forever." Rachel and Lewis' monthly expenses are as follows: Rent/bills: £0 Gas: £8.75 Laundry: £12 Food: £240 Phone contracts: £60 Caravan insurance: £10 Total: £330. Previously, when they were homeowners, their monthly costs were: Mortgage: £500 Council tax: £130 Water: £30 Gas and electric: £70 Subscriptions (like Sky, Netflix and Amazon): £100 Phone contracts: £60 Food shop: £240 Takeaways: £200 Total: £1,330.
