ACCESS & CONSERVATION NEWS
Footpath Conference
The MCofS is one of the members of the British Upland Footpath Trust (BUFT), which carried out some innovative work in the 1990's, but has not been active over the last five or six years. BUFT's last major achievement was running a successful conference at Glenmore Lodge in May 1998, but since then it has suffered as the MCofS and BMC have had to concentrate resources on the access legislation related work on either side of the border. With the legislation in place we feel the time is right to get back to revitalising BUFT and organising a re-launch for 2005. BUFT's main role was to act as a forum for discussion on best practice across the UK, and with its absence in recent years we feel there is a strong need for it to carry out that networking role once again, and to act as a vital link between the upland path industry and those who walk on the paths.
The MCofS and BMC are hoping that the Mountaineering Council of Ireland (MCofI) will come on board, and whilst this will require a name change, we feel that with Ireland facing similar path issues as England, Scotland and Wales, the presence of Ireland in the Trust will be to everyone's benefit.
With all of this in mind, plans for a 2005 conference are well underway and being coordinated by Margaret Thomas. The 2005 conference will take place at Bangor University from September 12th to 14th. Further details can be found on the MCofS website.
Road works
Disruption in Glencoe for years to come
As mentioned previously in The Scottish Mountaineer there is to be disruption to road traffic passing through Glencoe as bridges on the A82 are replaced. By the time you read this work on the Lairig Eilde bridge (183563) at the top of the glen will have commenced. This work is expected to run from April 2005 to around July 2006. Traffic lights and a single carriageway system will be in place for most of this 63 week period. In addition there will be occasional 10 to 20 minute closures when blasting is taking place. Contractors working on the bridge will be in contact with the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, so the traffic flow can be managed to reduce the possibility of the road works causing a delay in the rescue procedure.
Work on the Lairig Eilde bridge is just the beginning of a series of bridge replacements in Glencoe, with the Achnambeithach bridge (138566) at the end of the Clachaig road next in line for re-building. With other bridges awaiting replacement after that, it is likely that there will be roadworks and a traffic lights system in operation somewhere in the glen until at least 2010. We will do our best to keep you informed of progress with the work and of possible delays via The Scottish Mountaineer and our website.
Car park and lay-by work is also being planned in Glencoe and by the time you read this a new car park will have opened near the start of the Lairig Eilde path (188563) on the south side of the road.
The MCofS is working with the National Trust for Scotland, local business and resident groups, Black Corries Estate, Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Executive and BEAR to make sure the mountaineering view is heard in discussion on issues such as traffic management, car parking, footpath management and so on.
Police Wild Life Conference
MCofS Access and Conservation Officer Mike Dales spoke at a major Police conference on Wildlife Crime in February and explained how hillwalkers and climbers can help in the fight against wildlife crime.
text of Mike Dales speech
The MCofS has worked closely with Police Wildlife Liaison Officers (PWLOs) for a number of years and we have published articles in this magazine, put PWLOs in touch with local climbers in their area, encouraged clubs to seek evening talks from PWLOs and published our guidance to climbers for avoiding disturbance to nesting birds on cliffs and crags. As well as pointing out these actions to the audience Mike also gave guidance to help PWLOs tell the difference between an egg thief and a real climber.
Another way that mountaineers can assist the fight against wildlife crime is in the reporting of international crime. With the big mountain ranges in the developing countries of Asia, Africa and South America we often travel to these continents and have the opportunity to witness some appalling examples of animal cruelty and exploitation. Whilst we would just go to the Police if we were in a developed nation, it is quite often impossible to report your suspicions whilst in a developing nation. Organisations like the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit are able to take reports of suspected wildlife crimes from anywhere in the world. Their website can be found at www.ncis.co.uk/wildlifecrime.asp, or they can be contacted by telephone on 0207 238 8367.
The conference was also addressed by Deputy Environment Minister Lewis Macdonald who announced tough new powers to crack down on criminals who poison rare birds of prey. The possession of a range of specified pesticides has become punishable by crimes of up to £5,000 and/or jail sentences of 6 months.
The new law offers greater protection to birds such as the golden eagle, buzzard, red kite and sea eagle. The provisions will protect not only wildlife but also potential victims of accidental poisoning such as children, domestic pets and those of us taking recreation in the countryside. The eight ingredients are listed in the Possession of Pesticides (Scotland) Order 2005.
As well as being an active group of outdoor visitors that can occasionally witness wildlife crimes, mountaineers also have the opportunity from time to time to cause accidental disturbance to wildlife. The MCofS's Guidance on Nesting Birds appeared in The Scottish Mountaineer 16 – (February 2003). Since then the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act has come into force and our guidance has been amended slightly and an up-to-date version appears on our website. This is a timely reminder, especially to rock climbers, to familiarise yourselves with this advice and to be fully aware of the significance of the new offence of reckless disturbance.
Wind Factories:
Storms on the Horizons
by Kevin Howett
Monadhliath Developments
Evocatively described by James Fenton in his article, the Farr wind factory on the hills just west of Tomatin (on the edge of 'the grey hills' beside the A9) has been given the go-ahead and work has started to construct the access roads. These must accommodate huge lorries that will carry the turbines which cannot negotiate steep inclines or tight bends. As a result the tracks have an imprint of about 12m width, including the lateral ditching, and cut like a scythe through the hillside.
The next proposed factory lies to the south and west of here, in the very heart of the Monadhliath – the Dumnaglass proposal. This will straddle 4 square miles of high plateau (at 2,000ft) with thirty six 360ft turbines. It is reported that the estate owner, Sir Jack Hayward (a Bahamas-based property millionaire) will receive £9M over 25 years and the developer, Renewable Energy Systems (RES: part of the Sir Robert McAlpine conglomerate) can expect to make profits of £120M+ (principly derived from the Governments Renewables Obligation Certificates (i.e. public money).
The neighbouring estate of Coignafearn, owned by Sigrid Rausing (of the 'TetaPak' Family, who took ownership of the estate in 1999), has a vision for a sporting estate managed on conservation and sustainable grounds; to restore 100 years of exploitation by man. With eagles resident for the first time in years and nest sites made to encourage breeding, with sea eagles visiting, osprey and kites resident along with wild cat, mountain hare, otter and ptarmigan, the estate fear that their vision will be utterly undermined. The developers admit in their own report that up to 11 eagles could die, breeding success disrupted, red kites threatened and wildcat dens disrupted! Richard Benyon of another neighbouring estate (Glenmazeran) has also come out against the proposal, as he considers the Monadhliath as 'the jewel in the crown of the central highlands'.
MCofS has objected to this proposal on similar grounds. Although the deadline for objections is past we would urge anyone who feels the same way and wishes to try and save this area to write anyway to the following people as recommended by the three estates who are fighting this proposal:
Andrew Brown, Principle Planner, Planning Dept. Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX. Copy it to Lesley Thomson, Scottish Executive Energy Consents Unit, Meridian Court, 5 Cardogan St. Glasgow G2 6AT and tel the EU Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas (stavros.dimas@cc.eu.int).
Isle of Lewis Residents have their Say
Following over 2,000 objections made (mainly from local people) against the Barvas Moor proposal (potentially the biggest in Europe?) there follows very quickly another proposed wind factory at Eishken in the Paic wilderness (to which MCofS have also objected). The Western Isles residents then made a clear statement in the recent elections by voting in an SNP member to represent them at Westminster. The Labour MP lost his seat and reportedly blamed his defeat on anti-wind farm voters punishing him for his pro-wind views.
Sma' Glen Public Enquiry
The East Perthshire hills triangle between Crieff, Dunkeld and Aberfeldy has been targeted by various developers as suitable because, although highly scenic, carries no conservation designations (although it is a 'Tourist Route'). The first of these to come to public consultation is the Abercairny Wind farm, which intends to place twenty four 100m+ turbines to the south, east and west of this historic glen and local beauty spot. 200 objections were made and it is the first such 'Section 36' proposal to go to public inquiry and so is an important indicator of what to expect in the future. This started on 24th May at the Drummond Arms hotel in Crieff and is expected to last 3-4 weeks so you may still have a chance to attend the inquiry.
The Sma' Glen Protection Group (SGPG) has engaged Mr John Campbell QC as their legal counsel (also representing Perth & Kinross Council) and have been fund raising to pay the fees. If you can help with donations contact the SGPG Treasurer Mr J Richardson (01764 653 036) or the Spokesperson Maureeen Beaumont (01764 652 407). Otherwise, the group urge as many people to attend the enquiry as possible to show the strength of feeling against the proposal, which will devastate this area of highly visible hill on the highland boundary.
Other local proposals that we highlighted in the June 2004 edition of Scottish Mountaineer, Calliachar, Logiealmond and Griffin Forest are yet to come forward. It remains to be seen whether these proposals, highly visible from a large area, will go ahead. Perhaps they are all waiting for the outcome of the Sma' Glen enquiry?
VisitScotland survey
This showed that 25% of visitors would avoid countryside where there are wind farms; 50% said they spoiled the look of the countryside.
Information that may be of interest to members:
Renewables Trends in Scotland: Statistics & Analysis. SNH December 2004
www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/strategy/renewable/sr-rt.pdf
Scottish Wind Assessment Project (SWAP)
www.swap.org.uk
Gazetteer of Wind Power in Scotland. SWAP January 2005
www.swap.org.uk/gazeteer.pdf
Who surveys the surveyors? Surveys and polls in the formation of Scotland's energy policy. SWAP April 2005 Available on Views of Scotland website (www.viewsofscotland.org)
Some websites that might be of interest to MCofS members:
www.stopdunmaglass.com (more detail on the Monadhliath development)
www.argyllwindfarms.com (Facilitating an informed debate on the development of more "Wind Farms" in Argyll)
www.fairwind.org.uk (A wind farm information site for Ardnamurchan, Morvern and Mull)