Wind Farms blamed for wild land destruction
An area of unspoilt Scotland the size of Sutherland has been lost to development over four years, according to new figures.
Conservationists who have raised fears over the visual impact on Scotland's scenery say the proliferation of wind farms is largely to blame.
The study carried out by Scottish Natural Heritage reveals a dramatic decline in the nation's countryside, with building carried out on nearly 2000 square miles of unspoilt Scotland over one four-year period alone.
Conservation groups fighting to ensure Scottish Government planning regulations provide better protect the nation's precious landscape fear it has already been "trashed".
The research reveals the key reason for the dramatic change in recent years is wind turbines.
An analysis of that four-year change shows the proportion of visual impact caused by turbines has more than doubled, from 19.9% in 2008 to 41.7% in 2012.
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland says it has become increasingly concerned about the intrusion of wind farms on to mountains and moors with no sign of a curb to their expansion.
Dave Gordon, the body's director of landscape and access, said: "We recognise that onshore wind has a role to play in a balanced energy mix, but the current generously incentivised mania for turbines is producing an acutely unbalanced energy mix. We are behaving in a totally unsustainable manner in the name of sustainability.
"Developers won't stop coming until the money tap is turned off. They don't care about Scotland, just their profits."
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