Campaigners launch petition opposing proposals to build 20-turbine windfarm near Evanton over fears it could dwarf ‘iconic’ Fyrish Monument
A campaign group opposing proposals to build a 20-turbine wind farm near one of Easter Ross’ most iconic landmarks is appealing for signatures on a petition to stop the development.
Renewable energy company RWE revealed proposals for a “commercial scale wind farm” at Ceislein last August, with the 250-metre tall turbines set to be situated 20 km north-east of Dingwall, near the historic Fyrish monument outside Evanton.
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The firm say the new development will boast a generating capacity of up to 132MW.
But campaign group “Save Fyrish” are now fighting to stop the plan, and have launched an online petition in a bid to halt its progress.
An initial petition amassed over 1400 signatures, alongside the launch of a GoFundMe campaign to cover the cost of campaigning against the proposals.
The petition urges the rejection of RWE's application to install 20 wind turbines, each standing at 250 meters — the tallest in the UK — near the monument.
Campaigners argue that these turbines would “dwarf” the 10.5-meter-tall landmark, compromising its “iconic presence” and the surrounding landscape.
A new online version of the petition, entitled Save Fyrish Reject Ceislein Windfarm, has added a further 144 signatures and has now been opened to the wider public to sign.
The petition states: “These turbines would be the tallest in the UK and will dwarf this iconic landmark which only stands at 10.5meters tall.
“We currently have 5 windfarms in the glen and feel that the accumulative impact from this planning consent would adversely affect our community, the wildlife, our heritage and economy.
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“We the undersigned, call on planning officials to reject RWEs planning application and ban the building of any turbines in the land surrounding Fyrish Monument and help us protect this iconic landmark and landscape for generations to come.”
A spokesperson for RWE said: “The Ceislein Wind Farm is still at the very early stages of the planning process.
“We fully understand the importance of the Fyrish Monument to the local community, and we are working with our design team to minimise the impact on this historic landmark.
“We are currently completing the necessary environmental surveys that are feeding into the design process of the wind farm.
“This includes landscape and visual, noise, ecology and ornithology, as well as cultural heritage.
“We are committed to working with the local community to produce a final design that has been informed by the feedback received at the first public meeting, held last August.
“We hope to be able to present this updated design at our next public event scheduled for Spring 2025.”
Fyrish monument was built in 1782 on Fyrish Hill, known in Scottish Gaelic as Cnoc Fhaoighris, in Evanton, south of neighbouring town, Alness.
It was built by people local to the area by order of Sir Hector Munro of Novar, a native Lord of the area, who had served as a general in India.
Historians speculate that as the local population were being cleared off the land they had worked for centuries by the Lords of the Land, survival was a problem and so it was built to keep the locals in labour.
It is believed that Munro rolled stones from the top of the hill to the bottom, thereby extending the amount of time worked and paying the labourers for additional hours.
The monument’s design represents the Gate of Negapatam, a port in Madras, India, which General Munro took for the British in 1781.
A popular spot with local walkers and outdoor enthusiasts, its location offers an extensive view over the Cromarty Firth, Ben Wyvis and beyond.
Such is the prominence of the distinctive and “iconic” silhouette of Fyrish, which is visible from the A9 atop Fyrish hill, it has been adopted by many groups and businesses around Evanton and Alness.
