Developers who hope to build 17 turbines on hills overlooking a Highland beauty spot have promised to help “train a new generation of young people” in traditional skills if it wins approval.
Infinergy and Cawdor Estates are awaiting the outcome of an appeal to the Scottish Government for their proposed Tom nan Clach project, near Tomatin, Inverness, on the hills above Dava Moor.
The site is home to Lochindorb freshwater loch and its ruined castle, once the lair of the Wolf of Badenoch in the 14th century.
The project is one of two schemes being considered by Scottish Ministers. Eurus Energy wants to erect 26 turbines at Glenkirk.
Last night, developers for the Tom nan Clach project said they would like a £195,000-a-year community benefit budget to be spent on a scheme to help increase the skills of young people in the area.
Anti-windfarm campaigners have branded the offer “bribery”.
Fiona Milligan, Inverness-based project manager for Infinergy, said: “The Highlands are justly proud of the traditional occupations and skills that contribute to making the area such an attractive place to live.
“However, many of the custodians of those skills are getting older and without new blood there’s a danger that they could be lost or at least be in very short supply.
“We think that there’s a big appetite locally for gaining skills such as stonemasonry that are crucial to the economy – and people’s enjoyment – of the Highlands.”
Angus McNicol, managing agent of Cawdor Estates, added: “It is crucial that local expertise in traditional skills is not lost.”
Pat Wells, of the Strathdearn Against Windfarm Developments protest group, said: “This is Infinergy’s latest attempt to influence Scottish ministers’ decision on the proposal, and can be described by one word – bribery.
“It is a tactic used by developers when they realise they are swimming against the tide of public opinion.”