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media release 18 June 2003 THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND ACTS
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The National Trust for Scotland, Scotland’s largest conservation charity, has objected to the proposed hydro electricity generating schemes at Shieldaig and Slattadale, Wester Ross in the interest of protecting some of the finest wild land in Scotland.
In a letter to the Scottish Executive Robin Pellew, Chief Executive of the Trust sets out in detail why the Trust objects to this scheme.
“Despite our support for renewable generation in principle, the Trust opposes developments which generate unacceptable environmental impacts. There are some places in Scotland which are quite simply unsuitable for this or indeed any other kind of industrial development. The Torridon/Shieldaig/Slattadale area is one such place.”
The Trust‘s objections relate to specific concerns regarding the protection of the wild land in the area, the impact the development would have on the landscape, its visual impact, how it would affect biodiversity, the lack of reversibility of the scheme and the overall environmental costs.
“Scotland's remote and wild landscapes are one of its finest assets. Wild land is a distinctive part of Scotland’s heritage and identity and provides excellent opportunities to escape from the pressures of everyday living and to find physical and spiritual refreshment. Outwith Scandinavia there are few large areas of wild land in Europe, making Scotland a favoured destination for many visitors. Scotland’s wild landscape, therefore, is of considerable socio-economic importance to the tourism industry as well as a significant asset in environmental terms.”
Since its creation in the 1930’s, the Trust has promoted the cause of wild land conservation, partly through the acquisition and management of some of Scotland’s most remote and wild landscapes, and partly through advocacy to others responsible for land management.
ENDS
For further information please contact Francoise van Buuren, Corporate Communications Manager on (0131) 243 9384. A copy of the letter sent to the Scottish Executive is available on our website www.nts.org.uk under Conserve/Policy/Policy work with other organisations.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The National Trust for Scotland has a statutory purpose of ‘promoting the permanent preservation for the benefit of the nation of lands and buildings in Scotland of historic or national interest or natural beauty’. It therefore has a general objective of protecting land of national interest or natural beauty from damaging development. More specifically in Wester Ross, the Trust owns and manages Inverewe Garden and Estate at Poolewe, to the north of the proposed development, and Torridon Estate immediately to its south.
The Inverewe Estate is of outstanding international importance because of its garden; moreover, the wider estate has both natural and cultural features, including species, habitats and archaeological sites, of considerable international, national or local significance. Inverewe is a highly significant generating factor in both the local community and the regional economy. The garden is the major visitor attraction in Wester Ross and the property is the largest employer in the Gairloch area. Over and above the visitors it attracts to the area, it has a direct impact on the local economy through the provision of employment, use of local suppliers and, indirectly, through staff living within the local community.
The significance of the Torridon Estate lies largely in its wild land and landscape qualities. Its mountains are a major year-round attraction for visitors, and the resultant tourism industry makes a significant contribution to the local economy. The long journey to reach the estate and the relative lack of evidence of human activity in the mountain core give a sense of remoteness and wild land quality that is difficult to surpass in Britain.
The overwhelming presence of nature is highly evocative, and gives visitors to this breathtaking landscape the opportunity to contemplate the fragility and scale of human existence. The Trust manages Torridon as part of the large area of wild mountainous country between Lochs Torridon, Gairloch and Maree, which also includes the Shieldaig/Slattadale area. As part of this it has committed itself to advocate amongst local communities and neighbouring landowners the need to ensure that any proposed development does not detract from the internationally significant wild land quality of this part of Wester Ross.
The National Trust for Scotland was established in 1931 to act as guardian of the nation’s magnificent heritage of architectural, scenic and historic treasures and to promote public enjoyment of them. In its care for 127 properties, covering 76,000 hectares of land and representing much of the best of Scotland’s heritage. Each year the Trust welcomes over 1.7 million visitors to those properties where numbers can be counted. It is estimated that as many again visit the countryside and open areas.
The Trust, an independent charity, is the largest voluntary conservation body in Scotland. It depends for its support on donations, legacies and the subscription of its 260,000 members.
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