STA Conference – The Destruction of Rural Tourism in Scotland

A global spotlight is on South West Scotland as a special place UNESCO status granted in July 2012 -One of only 580 Biosphere

Reserves Worldwide

Providing a Catalyst for new Economic opportunities, environmentally sustainable development, nature conservation

and education

Cycle and mountain biking routes in the Borders

View from the Merrick

Arecleoch These 60 turbines stretch from Ballantrae to Barrhill -

The Scottish Government want to add another 99 turbines (Kilgallioch) 50 turbines (Stronoch) to link up with Artfield, Glenchamber and Carscreugh

Glenchamber Windfarm Application

View from Ardwell of Luce Bay

Applications

Of the 57 renewable applications appealed to the Scottish Government, 51 have been consented and 6 rejected.The Scottish Government’s Energy Consents and Deployment Unit is currently considering another 42 applications of >50GW capacity generating stations, including 39 renewables: 2 Hydro, 3 Biomass, 34 Onshore wind, plus 2 non-renewable Hydro and 1 non-renewable thermal stations. In addition to this there are 10 active applications for overhead lines.

Fishing is worth millions to the Scottish Economy

Old Landscapes

Are Wind Turbines worth having

Whitelees Visitors centre

East Collarie and Turbines

Tourism Surveys

• Visit Scotland is treating the survey findings as a political vote - in other words if a majority think windfarms are okay, then they are OK. Rubbish!

• In fact with economic decisions 'every vote counts' so if 20% dislike windfarms then that's 20% of revenue potentially lost.

• That was then, this is now..*

• * Tourists and Tourism in a Visual World, Prof Cara Aitchison, 6th International Symposium on Aspects of Tourism, University of Brighton,

June 2007.

UK including Scotland 2004Prof Aitchison -- May 2004

UK Scotlandoperational turbines 1070 299

turbines in construction 0 0

turbines with consent 16 13

turbines in planning 31 19

Increase since Aitchison 2008

UK SCOTLANDOperational 2799 1438

In construction 1539 548

With planning consent 2123 890

In planning 3570 1776

Caledonian University 2008Numbers

UK ScotlandOperational 1938 770

In construction 0 0

With Planning 279 119

In planning 509 303

Turbine numbers August 2012

UK ScotlandOperational 3869 1737

Under construction 1539 548

Planning consent 2139 903

In planning 3601 1795

UK Numbers and increase since 2008

2012 Incr ‘08 – ‘12Operational 3869 1931

In construction 1539 1539

With planning c’snt 2139 1860

In planning 3601 3092

Scotland numbers and increase since 2008

2012 Incr ‘08-12Operational 1737 967

In construction 548 548

With planning c’snt 903 784

In planning 1795 1492

One more slide……………

No of fossil fuel power stations closed NONENo of homes with cheaper electricity NONENo of windfarms constructed without a fight

NONENo of MSPs returned on a pro windfarm ticket

NONEMoney needlessly spent on inquiries,challenges, etc £zillions

If ever there was an ideal site for a wind farm! To remind those who sit at Holyrood of what they needlessly inflict on others.