# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
But RSPB's turbine got the go-ahead as an article in the journal Nature claimed they killed far fewer birds than than other human causes such as buildings, cars, power lines, pesticides and pet cats.

The turbine by energy company Ecotricity is now ready to start producing power at the RSPB's Lodge headquarters near Sandy, Bedfordshire.

The RSPB, to make its operations greener, warns climate change is the "single biggest threat" to birds and other wildlife and says it has been involved in hundreds of wind farm applications to make sure local bird nesting activity, migratory patterns and flight paths are taken into account.

The charity said it had worked in partnership with Ecotricity on three years of detailed ecological and environmental research to confirm the location at its headquarters was suitable for a turbine.

RSPB director of conservation Martin Harper said: "Climate change is the single biggest threat to our planet. This is about our birds and wildlife as well as our way of life.

"Around the world, and even in the UK, we can already see how these changes are affecting wildlife, the places where they live as well as damage to our homes and disruptions to the economy.

"It is down to everyone to play their part. In the UK, we have the potential to generate a significant portion, if not all, of our electricity from sustainable sources."

And he said: "Using wind energy is a proven and reliable technology that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. But turbines must be located where they are sympathetic to our natural environment."

Ecotricity has financed and installed the wind turbine which will produce power at a discounted cost to the charity, with excess electricity generated being sold by the energy company, a scheme which powers operations by Sainsbury's, Ford and B&Q.

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said the partnership allowed the company to work with customers to make green energy where they needed it and to share the benefits.

"Green energy puts power in the hands of the people - the technology allows us to democratise and decentralise energy in Britain.

"Green energy is also a strong economic and an environmental choice - it's about jobs and the new industrial revolution, about building a truly sustainable economy in Britain," he said.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Controversy as RSPB builds 100m wind turbine despite deadly threat to birds

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
But RSPB's turbine got the go-ahead as an article in the journal Nature claimed they killed far fewer birds than than other human causes such as buildings, cars, power lines, pesticides and pet cats. The turbine by energy company Ecotricity is now ready to start producing power at the RSPB's Lodge headquarters near Sandy, Bedfordshire.

# data[].attributes.headline
Conflict over Festival land use due to potential oil pipe dangers and limited space.

# data[].attributes.subject
Conflict over Festival land use due to potential oil pipe dangers and limited space.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
THE T in the Park festival is to radically overhaul its home at Strathallan Castle following last year's transport problems at the new site.

As Geoff Ellis, event director, revealed a "diverse and relevant" 2016 line-up that includes Stone Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers and DJ Calvin Harris, he said the festival was committed to the Perthshire site.

It is now seeking permission from Perth and Kinross Council to expand the site significantly.

Last year Ellis apologised for the traffic problems which affected access to the site, a venue which had already proved controversial because of warnings about the effect of the festival on the sensitive local wildlife.

The July festival, which has already announced an overhaul to its organising team, is introducing separate routes in and out of the site for cars and buses in an attempt to reduce congestion.

This year the festival will take up more land, with the main arena having 25 per cent more space than 2015.

The Main Stage will also be relocated to "create more space and to help open up the flow."

The campsite will also increase in space, by 28 per cent, subject to the council's permission.

In 2016 a new security manager and a number of "zone managers" will be overseeing the campsites and other key locations around the site, which will also have more entrances.

Last year there were reports of traffic problems, long delays entering and leaving the location, with some revellers forced to sleep in their cars and stay on the site.

Mr Ellis said: "We're making the site approximately a quarter bigger again, and making the campsite bigger too, so we are taking on more land.

"Which enables us then to re-orientate the site a bit more.

"Last year was the first year on the site, we had a short window to get the layout done - we want to improve it from last year, there were some areas that needed improvement.

"We have got proposals into the council about the position, it is about the relocation of the main stage...so we are waiting on permission for that.

"It will definitely be improved, and the arena and campsite will both be bigger, allowing people to move around easier and have more space."

The operational team for the festival now includes a new security manager, traffic manager and site management company.

The former T in the Park Police event commander, Colin Brown, has been named security manager, and former road police inspector Ian Martin will take on the role of traffic manager. Both are new positions.

APL Events has been appointed to look after site management when the festival returns to Strathallan Castle from July 8-10. It moved there last year from Balado because of concerns over an oil pipe on that site.

Mr Ellis added: "We want the customer experience to be enhanced and having more time allows us to do that and having more land allows us to achieve that.

"We are separating buses from cars, we have a new bus terminal, these are things are are pleased about and excited about.

"The line-up is one thing, the experience is another, and we want that to be great as well."

Mr Ellis said that T in the Park was committed to the Strathallan site for the long term.

"Absolutely - when we chose to go there, we knew the move wasn't going to be easy," he said.

"It's a beautiful site, its a workable site, and we want it to be our long term home."

The changes to the site do not affect the festival's capacity, he said.

Ticket sales are ahead of 2015 at the moment.

The T Break unsigned talent show is back for its 21st year.

On the festival featuring older bands such as Stone Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers and LCD Soundsystem, Mr Ellis said it was no reflection of a changing demographic at the festival.

"T in the Park has never solely been about a right of passage, it has always appealed to a broader range," he said.

"The core attendees might be 18-25 as per a lot of festivals, but in Scotland you can't run a festival saying it is just for 18-25 year olds, it has to appeal to everyone else as well."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
T in the Park site overhauled for 2016 following troubles of first year at Strathallan Castle

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
THE T in the Park festival is to radically overhaul its home at Strathallan Castle following last year's transport problems at the new site. As Geoff Ellis, event director, revealed a "diverse and relevant" 2016 line-up that includes Stone Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers and DJ Calvin Harris, he said the festival was committed to the Perthshire site.

# data[].attributes.body
losing its triple SSSI due
the constant erosion of the vital dune system creating a vast loss in vital habitat.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Rare and ecologically important sand dunes at Donald Trump's flagship Scottish golf resort in Aberdeenshire could be stripped of their protected status due to "damage and loss", according to experts.

Prior to development, the sands shifted northwards by up to 11 metres each year over an area of around 15 hectares.

Now Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), which has been monitoring the environmental impact of the 18-hole course, says it has caused loss of habitat and harm to the dunes.

The nature agency regularly checks SSSIs for the important features they were listed for.

READ MORE: North East 250 launched as Scotland's latest driving route

The scale of the impact is currently being assessed before as decision is made whether all or parts of the site should lose their special designation.

"We're currently reviewing the SSSI boundary of Foveran Links and hope to complete this by the end of December," a spokesman for SNH said.

"As expected, there are areas where there has been some permanent habitat loss - for example, where tracks, tees, fairways and greens have been constructed.

"There have been other habitat changes where, for example, mobile sand dunes have been stabilised through the planting of marram grass.

"Part of our review will be to assess the significance and scale of this loss and damage."

Conservationists have said it seems likely Foveran Links will be downgraded.

Jonny Hughes, chief executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: "The Scottish Wildlife Trust was strongly opposed to the Trump development. Our main objection was that there would be severe and irreversible damage to around 40 per cent of the Foveran Links SSSI, one of the best sand dune systems of its type in north-western Europe.

"Therefore, it would be unsurprising if the SSSI status is removed."

Speaking in a BBC documentary to be aired tonight, Dr Jim Hansom, a landform expert at Glasgow University, says he will be "absolutely surprised" if the site keeps its status.

He said: "It really should be de-notified because there's no dynamism involved in that site now and that was the original justification for its notification. It has been ruined from a virgin undeveloped wilderness site into something that's relatively manicured."

Sarah Malone, executive vice-president of Trump International Golf Links Scotland, said the status of the SSSI is "for the authorities to decide".

She added: "The fact of the matter is, contrary to what is propagated by a very small group of people, our environmental approach was first class."

READ MORE: Police seize millions in drugs in Aberdeen in single year

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Donald Trump's golf links in Aberdeenshire facing downgrade

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Rare and ecologically important sand dunes at Donald Trump's flagship Scottish golf resort in Aberdeenshire could be stripped of their protected status due to "damage and loss", according to experts. Prior to development, the sands shifted northwards by up to 11 metres each year over an area of around 15 hectares.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The campaign also claims it is unlikely to succeed in the wake of a decision by the Scottish Government to reject another controversial project close to the park.

The 26-turbine Glenkirk scheme, north of Allt Duine, was turned down on wild land grounds and on the basis of the effect it would have on the national park.

Chris Townsend, spokesman for SMM, said: "It is clear that Allt Duine is a speculative application that took advantage of the Scottish Government's political commitment to renewable energy.

"Everyone is convinced that a wind farm at Allt Duine would be a step a too far for the beautiful scenery of the Cairngorms National Park and the Monadhliath Mountains. I hope that RWE will do the decent thing and withdraw the application immediately."

The group said cabling, roads and turbines associated with the proposal would have an "irrevocable impact" on the landscape, wildlife and ornithology of the park.

The report from the public local inquiry was passed to ministers in July, and anti-wind farm campaigners regard the forthcoming decision as a test of the Scottish Government's commitment to protect wild land areas.

In its letter to the development, the SMM campaign claims that "if it is an environmentally responsible company" it has no choice but to accept that the application will not receive approval.

It also points out that the entire site lies inside the boundaries of the "Monadhliath Core Wild Land Area" proposed by Scottish National Heritage, the government's own environment agency.

Mr Townsend wrote: "...the campaign hopes that RWE, if it is a responsible company, will do the decent thing and withdraw the application immediately. It could only restore its national and local credentials by doing so.

"As RWE now fully appreciates, a wind farm at Allt Duine would be a catastrophe for the beautiful scenery of the park and the Monadhliath Mountains, and contrary to national and local planning policy."

Jenny Gascoigne, development manager for RWE npower renewables, said the firm had no intention of withdrawing the scheme.

She added that it was not sensible to draw comparisons between the Allt Duine project and Glenkirk, as All Duine was not in a "Special Landscape Area" and had only limited visibility form the A9 road - the main road to Inverness and the Highlands from central Scotland.

Ms Gascoigne said the site was identified as a preferred area for major onshore wind development in Highland Council's renewable strategy in 2006, and also said that a ridge line prevent views of the project site from the areas of the national park closes to it.

The company added in its letter to SMM that Kincraig Community Council voted to support the proposal, and other nearby community councils were neutral on the issue.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Power company urged to withdraw plans for controversial wind farm on edge of national park

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The campaign also claims it is unlikely to succeed in the wake of a decision by the Scottish Government to reject another controversial project close to the park. The 26-turbine Glenkirk scheme, north of Allt Duine, was turned down on wild land grounds and on the basis of the effect it would have on the national park.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Gates are preventing public access

A Highland landowner has caused outrage by banning the public from accessing a popular country walk.

Ramblers Scotland is calling on the owner of the beautiful Kinrara estate to immediately remove new locked gates blocking public access and the Speyside Way that runs through it.

The estate is reportedly owned by London-based businessman Tor McLaren but is run by his uncle, Major Robin McLaren.

Under Scottish law, there is an obligation on people who own and manage land to ensure that public access is facilitated where access rights apply.

Thousands of people use the Speyside Way each year, bringing many economic benefits to the area. Some will now face long detours to join the trail, with the closest alternatives at Aviemore, Dalraddy Holiday Park and Kincraig.

Cairngorms National Park Authority is investigating the gates, which are blocking three tarmac entrances to the estate grounds.

If they remain locked, it is likely that the authority will use legal powers to remove them, although this process can be expensive and lengthy.

Brendan Paddy, director of Ramblers Scotland, said: "We fully support the Cairngorms National Park Authority in their efforts to tackle these gates, which should never have appeared in the first place.

"It's extremely disappointing that a public body is having to spend time and money on such an avoidable problem, and that access remains blocked during the peak summer season.

"We call upon Kinrara Estate to remove the gates now, so that tourists and residents can once again exercise their access rights, join the Speyside Way and enjoy the natural beauty of the Cairngorms National Park."

The Speyside Way links the heart of the Cairngorms with the Moray coast and has been designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails by Scottish Natural Heritage.

For more than a decade, Kinrara Estate opposed the construction of an extension of the Speyside Way across its land, on what is the most natural route between Aviemore and Newtonmore.

In 2012, the Cairngorms National Park Authority served a Path Order to ensure the extension could go ahead - the first time this legal measure was ever used in Scotland.

Public access in Scotland is based on a balance of rights and responsibilities. Walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and paddlers can enjoy access rights, provided they act responsibly in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
third sector scotland charity charities voluntary news

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ramblers outraged as landowner blocks access to Whisky Trail

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Gates are preventing public access A Highland landowner has caused outrage by banning the public from accessing a popular country walk. Ramblers Scotland is calling on the owner of the beautiful Kinrara estate to immediately remove new locked gates blocking public access and the Speyside Way that runs through it.

# data[].attributes.body
Keep that dug under control ye big hairy scot.

# data[].attributes.headline
Easing conflict between wind farms and wildlife.

# data[].attributes.subject
Easing conflict between wind farms and wildlife.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
© PA

The company behind plans for a £2 billion wind farm off the Fife coast has called on bird protection charity the RSPB to abandon any further potential legal proceedings which could scupper the project and put hundreds of potential jobs at risk.

Developers Mainstream Renewable Power estimates that during construction the Neart Na Gaoithe (NnG) wind farm will create around 500 direct jobs, support hundreds of indirect jobs and generate an estimated £540 million in contracts for Scottish businesses.

Once operational in 2021, the company says it will also create around 100 direct, permanent jobs and bring an additional estimated £610 million in revenue into the regional economy.

That's aside from the environmental benefits of the 450MW wind farm generating sufficient electricity for around 325,000 homes, or the equivalent of the domestic properties in a city the size of Edinburgh.

But in an interview with The Courier, Andy Kinsella, Chief Operating Officer at Mainstream Renewable Power, has warned that this could all be jeopardized if the RSPB decides to appeal directly to the UK Supreme Court despite their application having recently been rejected by Scotland's highest court.

The project - and two other nearby arrays proposed by Inch Cape and Seagreen with a collective development value of circa £10 billion - have been in limbo for more than two years after the RSPB launched a court action to overturn planning permission granted to the developers by Scottish Ministers.

RSPB Scotland initially won its case but the decision was overturned in May in a ruling presided over by Scotland's most senior judge, Lord President, Lord Carloway.

RSPB Scotland is concerned about the consent process as well as the impact of the proposed arrays on puffin colonies and other bird life in the vicinity.

In June the bird conservation group lodged an application with the Inner House of the Court of Session seeking leave to appeal that decision to the Supreme Court, but that request was denied last month, giving the charity until this Wednesday to decide whether to appeal to the UK Supreme Court directly.

© Ian Lindsay.

Mr Kinsella said: "We are calling on the RSPB to respect Scotland's consenting process and the recent court decisions and abandon any further proceedings.

"For all the environmental and economic reasons set out, this project should be allowed to go ahead so that we can bring NnG into construction in 2018.

"This is a £2bn investment. We've had that money lined up and ready to go for 2.5 years.

"The only thing preventing us from reaching financial closure on this and starting construction is the RSPB challenge.

"If they go to the Supreme Court, it doesn't mean the Supreme Court will accept that they give them leave to appeal.

"But if they go to the court, and it is accepted, it will lead to another minimum delay in the project of a year and there's also the danger that if the RSPB don't get the right result from their point of view in the Supreme Court that they could appeal it further to Europe which could take years.

"They've had their fair day in court and they should let the project go ahead."

© Supplied

If the RSPB do not appeal, Mainstream says it is ready to start construction in the first or second quarter of next year, with the wind farm at full output by October 2021.

According to Mainstream, the potential economic benefits for towns and cities on Courier Country's east coast could be massive with construction opportunities over four years and maintenance and operations work over 25 years.

The developer predicts that Montrose could benefit from up to 100 construction and 100 operations and maintenance jobs; Dundee could see up to 200 construction jobs (turbine assembly, construction logistics, construction base and foundation logistics) plus 100 operations and maintenance jobs; Methil could see up to 500 construction jobs (foundation fabrication and logistics and construction logistics) with Rosyth set to gain up to 200 construction jobs (electrical substation and construction logistics).

The Mainstream project will see between 47 and 56 turbines installed at the NNG site off Fife Ness, which is 60% fewer than would have been five years ago.

© Supplied

The company said the reduction was as a result of technological advances in the intervening years.

RSPB Scotland, which generally favours the development of wind farms as a method of combatting climate change, told The Courier it is still considering its next steps ahead of the Wednesday August 16 deadline and was unable to discuss the matter further for legal reasons.

However, The Courier understands that the charity would regard an appeal to the Supreme Court as a "big call" and it recognises this would have significant implications.

The charity said previously that while disappointed by the Court of Session decision it was not wholly unexpected.

The existing consents, if implemented, could have an unprecedented impact on Scotland's breeding seabirds, the charity says.

According to the government's own figures, the cumulative impact on birdlife from the three proposed wind farm arrays in the region are the death each year of 1169 gannets, 1251 puffins and 100 kittiwakes.

This would be through a combination of birds colliding with turbines and birds starving to death as they are deterred from visiting their traditional feeding grounds.

RSPB previously expressed hope that by continuing to work with all the developers they would be able to reduce those impacts.

It also remained concerned, however, about the ministerial process.

Anne McCall, Director, RSPB Scotland, said previously: "The issues under consideration by the court go beyond simply the impacts of multiple developments on important seabird populations and explore wider issues, we therefore must consider the implications of the decision for all aspects of the case."

© Supplied

North East Fife MP Stephen Gethins, whose constituency includes important bird colonies on the Isle of May, said: "Scotland has hit the natural lottery twice first with hydrocarbons and second with Europe's best offshore renewables potential.

"Given our responsibility to tackle climate change and provide a sustainable environment for future generations it is important that we develop this green energy potential.

"That will be good for the economy in terms of jobs and investment and developing expertise that we can export in this exciting industry as well as providing a responsible and reliable source of energy.

"However any developments should be in the right place and provide benefits to the local communities affected."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
£2bn wind farm and hundreds of jobs at stake unless RSPB backs down, says developer - The Courier

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The company behind plans for a £2 billion wind farm off the Fife coast has called on bird protection charity the RSPB to abandon any further potential legal proceedings which could scupper the project and put hundreds of potential jobs at risk.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Forestry Commission has responded to claims in the Sunday Herald newspaper that it plans to shed environmental experts from its staff.

Image: Cairngorms Business Partnership (CC BY 2.0)

The Commission says the cuts being considered are within the Land Management and Community & Visitor Services of Forest Enterprise Scotland (FES), which manages Scotland's National Forest Estate, as part of a plan to replace the current 10 Forest Districts with five regional teams, and adds that relevant uninons have been involved.

A Forest Enterprise Scotland spokesman said: "We are currently exploring ways in which we can improve the management of the National Forest Estate in Scotland.

"Forest Enterprise Scotland has recently received a detailed response from the Trade Unions on the proposals and we are now giving this careful consideration. We understand the Unions' concerns and will continue engaging with them before any future decisions are taken."

The unions involved have not commented directly on the case. But think tank the Forest Policy Group co-founder Willie McGhee said: "Removing social and environmental roles [from FES] would clearly threaten the quality of what it does on environmental and social benefits."

RSPB Scotland head of species and land management Duncan Orr-Ewing added: "We are very concerned that the multi-purpose forestry ethos is at risk, including a raft of conservation programmes."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Forest Enterprise Scotland restructuring proposal sparks controversy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Forestry Commission has responded to claims in the Sunday Herald newspaper that it plans to shed environmental experts from its staff. The Commission says the cuts being considered are within the Land Management and Community & Visitor Services of Forest Enterprise Scotland (FES), which manages Scotland's National Forest Estate, as part of a plan to replace the current 10 Forest Districts with five regional teams, and adds that relevant uninons have been involved.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Our objection to plans for golf course in beautiful Highland dunes - Ramblers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Ramblers - Britain's walking charity working to protect and expand the places people love to walk and promote walking for health and pleasure. Walking information, advice and campaigns, walking news and events, group led walks and an online library of walking routes.

# data[].attributes.body
Deer Numbers are incredibly high and are a major issue facing regen on forests. They also provide a high tourist interest which is good for Scotland's Economy. We are extremely over populated.