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They are concerned that plans for this industrial scale windfarm will cause irreversible damage and destroy some of the most extensive and intact areas of blanket bog in the world. The Scottish Wildlife Trust are urging the public to send letters of objection to the Scottish Executive. Letters must be submitted by Monday 5th February 2007, by email or post. 

Speaking on World Wetlands Day, 2 February 2007, Stuart Brooks, Scottish Wildife Trust's Head of Conservation, said, “While the Scottish Wildlife Trust supports the use of renewable energy alternatives, this is the last place the Scottish Executive should be considering an application. Lewis is one of the best sites for wildlife in Britain.

“It is not just the wind turbines that are the problem. More lasting environmental impacts will be caused by the infrastructure to support the wind farm such as cabling underground, turbine foundations, roads and electrical substations. Peat takes thousands of years to mature and is an effective mechanism for fixing and storing carbon. If peat bogs are damaged they can release this stored carbon as carbon dioxide adding to global warming."

He continued, “Lewis peatlands has been awarded the highest levels of protection through the Ramsar Convention and European Habitat Regulations. Damaging them in this way contravenes and undermines the legislation set up to protect them. Should this application go ahead, the development will have significant impacts on wildlife particular birds such as the golden plover and the dunlin that breed on the site. On World Wetland Day, we are asking people to support our objection to this proposal by sending an objection letter or email to the Scottish Executive.”

On their website, Lewis Windpower highlight the benefits the project could bring to the area. These include creating green jobs and sustainable industry in Lewis and the opportunity for the community to take an ownership stake of 20%. The development could generate 36% of Scotland’s renewable energy targets and 6% of the UK targets.

You can send letters by post to:
Consents and Emergency Planning Unit
Scottish Executive
Meridian Court
5 Cadogan St
Glasgow, G2 6AT

Or by email to: emergencyconsents@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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