Click HERE to Complete and Send an Online Objection	*Click HERE* to Download a Printable Objection Form to Complete & Post**
A 'Room with a View'? Distance to nearest turbine 1km Spittal Hill - the wrong place for a wind farm. PLEASE OBJECT NOW!
UPDATE An Addendum to the original application has been submitted to the Scottish Government. Nothing has changed; the application is still for 30 turbines, up to 110 metres in height, on Spittal Hill, Caithness. The many concerns of local residents have not been addressed and the proposal remains a blight on their lives. We have another opportunity to send our objections to the Scottish Government and Highland Council. Even if you have already objected (which will still be taken into account), and thank you very much for doing so, we would urge you to object again. Please also encourage everyone you know to do the same. This may be our last chance. Please take a few minutes to complete our online objection form or print off a copy for posting.
View of Spittal Hill Windfarm from picnic area at east end of Loch Watten Distance to nearest turbine 5.4km

Spittal Windfarm Opposition Group (SWOG) was formed in August 2004 by residents living around Spittal Hill in central Caithness when the developers first produced their scoping plans for a major wind farm on Spittal Hill.

The development is for 30 turbines up to 110 metres high, the site having an area of 980 hectares (2421 acres or 3.75 square miles). Because of its immense size, the Scottish Government rather than Highland Council will decide this application.

What's so special about Spittal Hill? Why isn't it a good place for a major wind farm? First and foremost, the hill is a central, prominent local landmark between Wick and Thurso surrounded by an open landscape. The hill has an elevation of 176 metres; this would mean the closest turbine would tower over the summit by 59 metres (193 feet). This will diminish and destroy the natural form of the hill and will detrimentally alter the landscape.

The turbines will be visible from many locations both near and far. All major tourist routes into the county; road, rail, cruise ship and ferry will have a clear view. They will be visible from as far away as Kirkwall in Orkney and Strathy Point. Indeed, even the Environmental Statement admits the wind farm will be visible from all points of the compass with only a few pockets of land not having sight of it. Significant visual effects will apply to over 50% of surrounding areas.

Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZVT) from Environmental Statement.

Yellow areas denote areas where there is visibility of 26 to 30 turbines, Orange is 20 - 25 turbines, Green shows 14 - 19 turbines, Light Blue denotes 8 - 13 turbines and Dark Blue is 1 - 7 turbines. (Click for closeup view)

Spittal windfarm viewed from Dunnet (distance to nearest turbine 15 km). Photomontage by Stuart Young Visualisations

The cumulative and sequential impact when viewed together with the operational wind farms at Buolfruich and Causewaymire will give an impression of turbines along the length of the main A9 tourist route into and out of Caithness. In addition, there are wind farms built at Forss, Flex Hill and Achairn, and a wind farm approved at Camster. If this development is approved the tipping point will have been reached and the landscape will change to that of a 'wind farm landscape'. To alter an area's landscape so dramatically cannot be justified.

Site Map showing Turbine Layout
(Click for closeup view)

Montage comparing the Test & Trials Facility at Janetstown (27m high), Dunnet Church (12m high), a proposed Spittal Hill turbine (110m high), and an existing Forss turbine (78m high). Photomontage by
Stuart Young Visualisations

The wind farm will be situated much too close to residential property. The closest turbine to a residence (where the owners have no financial interest in the wind farm) will be approximately 864 metres away.

The closest turbine to houses at Spittal village will be approximately 1200 metres away. The consequent loss of amenity, and problems with noise, strobing and shadow flicker are well documented. Accidents at wind farm sites such as blade detachment, fire and ice throw have also been recorded.

Turbines viewed from the A9 at Spittal.
Photomontage by Stuart Young Visualisations

The wind farm site is within 2.5 km of Loch Scarmclate and 2.0 km of Loch Watten, both of which are component parts of the Caithness Lochs Special Protection Area and Ramsar site. Watercourses from the site run down to Lochs Scarmclate, Watten and Toftingall. The site contains within its boundaries Spittal and Banniskirk quarries, both designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest for their fossil fish. There are also existing historic landscape features to be taken into account. The history of Spittal village can be traced back to the Iron Age and there are many Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Listed Buildings situated within 10 km of the site.

"Our landscape of mountain, moor, loch and glen is famous throughout the world. It makes no sense to develop irresponsibly and thereby threaten the basis of our tourist industry. SNH must work with others to achieve carefully thought out policies." Quote from Scottish Natural Heritage on its North Highland webpage.

We are not alone in our concerns. Highland Council has already stated that Spittal Hill is not a suitable place for a major wind farm in their 2006 Renewable Energy Strategy. Prior to production of this Strategy, the Caithness Local Plan always designated Spittal Hill as an area presumed against development (PP3).

Additionally, Caithness' electricity needs have already been met by renewable energy. Npower claims its Causewaymire wind farm supplies sufficient electricity for 28,500 households. The Spittal Hill developers claim their wind farm would supply 45,000 households. According to Npower, the 2001 census showed Caithness as having 10,870 households. Even allowing for growth, and assuming these claims are valid, these two wind farms alone would supply over 62,000 more homes than exist in Caithness. The surplus will have to be exported many miles to consumers in the south.

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