The Clach Liath proposals would have seen 17 turbines built on the flanks of Ben Wyvis. Photo: Alasdair MacDonald CC-BY-SA-2.0

A council which yesterday rejected proposals for two Highland windfarms has today turned down a third application.

Planners threw out the plan for 17 turbines on the slopes of Ben Wyvis in Wester Ross, described by mountaineers as one of Scotland’s most beautiful mountains.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland welcomed Highland Council’s rejection of the Clach Liath application, for turbines almost 127m (417ft) high.

David Gibson, MCofS chief officer, said: “We welcome this decision but it is completely wrong that companies can waste public time and money by putting forward grossly unsuitable applications of this kind.

“We have repeatedly called on the Scottish Government to act but it misses every opportunity and simply appears weak in its failure to care for the Scottish countryside.

“There are real concerns that planning departments, with limited resources, are being seriously overstretched by inappropriate windfarm applications by large energy companies which are happy to industrialise Scotland’s mountains for the sake of their own profits.

“With three dreadful wind farm applications having been rejected by Highland Council in just two days it is time the Scottish Government started listening and changed its direction.

“Scotland needs a national renewables spatial planning policy to decide what can be built where. This would stop unsuitable, speculative planning applications and protect our precious countryside while allowing green energy schemes to be developed in suitable places.”

David Gibson: 'Dreadful windfarms rejected'

Highland Council planning committee yesterday rejected windfarm applications for Dalnessie and Glenmorie, both of which would have a severe impact on important mountain landscapes, according to the MCofS.

The final decision on these lies with the Scottish Government and the MCofS said it is calling on the Holyrood administration to respect the council’s views.