Scottish tourism chiefs have officially opposed plans for a windfarm development – claiming they could have a “detrimental” impact on holidaymakers.
VisitScotland issued an objection to a development near Lockerbie in Dumfries and Galloway on the grounds that the windfarm could drive away visitors.
The taxpayer-funded agency’s move was made only days after Alex Salmond claimed windfarms “enhance our appeal as a country”, and put more pressure on the SNP to order a moratorium on further developments.
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, convener of the Scottish Parliament’s energy and tourism committee, said: “If windfarms damage tourism in one area of Scotland, this is surely the case the country over. This is a message communities reliant on the tourist trade have been trying to get through to the Scottish Government for years.”
There are 131 onshore windfarms in Scotland with another 304 under construction having received planning consent. If those in the planning stage are developed it could result in more than 5,000 turbines across the country.
VisitScotland has repeatedly said it was not against windfarm developments. But its recent response to a controversial 10-turbine project near Lockervie, contradicts that view.
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