Raglan anti-wind farm activists feel vindicated by new Scottish research which suggests such projects tend to blow tourists away to more unspoilt locations. That's the same conclusion Raglan market research company Customer Value Management New Zealand reached with its own controversial survey, which was used in evidence to counter Wel Networks' application to build a 28-turbine wind farm at Te Uku. But Wel Networks says it is difficult to compare the Scottish situation with Raglan because of significant differences, particularly location. ...Scottish newspapers concluded wind farms could cost the tourism industry millions of pounds and hundreds of lost jobs in a "worst case scenario".

The Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown will host a major public meeting in Moray against plans to site a wind farm in the heart of the whisky trail. ...Tourists have flocked to Moray's famous whisky trail for decades, but owners of the distillery fear visitor numbers could dry up if the plans for nearly 60 turbines get the go ahead on the nearby Glenfiddich estate which is owned by London financier Christopher Morran.

The Blowing Rock Town Council has become the first local government in Northwest North Carolina to ban windmills. The decision by the town, whose economy depends on tourism, comes less than a year after Watauga County became the first county in the state to adopt an ordinance to regulate wind-energy systems. "I think appearance is extremely important in a small town like Blowing Rock," said Town Councilwoman Rita Wiseman. She joined Tuesday's unanimous vote to prohibit wind-energy systems, including residential-scale windmills.

The Lycoming County Planning Commission postponed a decision Thursday on whether to recommend an amendment to the county zoning ordinance to significantly change where electricity generating wind turbines may be built. Planning Commission staff had put together an amendment that, if approved by the county commissioners, would allow wind turbines in resource protection and agriculture districts by right and in countryside districts by special exception granted by the county zoning hearing board.

Opposition to two Perthshire wind farms has gained the support of MSP Murdo Fraser. The Tory politician, who represents Mid-Scotland and Fife, yesterday told a public inquiry at Amulree village hall he backs Perth and Kinross Council’s rejection of the application by GreenPower to build 68 turbines at Griffin Forest, near Dunkeld, and also a plan to build 27 turbines at Calliacher, near Aberfeldy. He said, “The tourism industry throughout Perthshire accounts for about 15% of all employment in the area. When tourism comprises such a large proportion of employment, it can be deemed as not only very important, but essential. “Whilst the contractors are to be commended for reducing the proposed total number of turbines from 128…this is still 95 too many on our rural landscape.

CAMPAIGNERS fighting proposals to build a wind farm on the outskirts of Penicuik have stepped up their battle against the plans by launching a protest website.

Giant wind generators planned in the centre of The Weaver Valley could cost the region's tourism trade millions in lost revenue - say objectors. The cluster of four 410ft high turbines, which are 100ft taller than Big Ben and would even dwarf the Fiddlers Ferry Cooling Tower, would be amongst the tallest in the UK. ... Mike Cooksley, chairman of tourism organisation Visit Chester and Cheshire ...said: "Regional parks should be protected, developed and enjoyed by both visitors and residents. "The countryside of Cheshire is epitomised by this site and is seen by many as the antidote to urbanisation and relief from city life."

Fife's prime attraction for visitors must be taken into account when a proposed wind farm near the picturesque village of Ceres is deliberated, a tourism leader has warned. The region's main appeal for tourists, its scenery and environment, must be given due consideration VisitScotland Fife area director Alan Graham said.

Developers behind plans for an Aberdeen offshore wind farm are denying that their proposals have been ‘watered down’ in response to concerns raised by billionaire Donald Trump.

West Devon councillors are to debate plans for a wind farm of 390-foot turbines in the face of an objection from a national charity.

A multi-million-pound scheme to promote tourism in the South Wales Valleys will be undermined if plans for two new wind farms get the go-ahead, campaigners claim. Plans for the wind farms straddling the Ogmore and Rhondda Valleys are due to go before councillors in July, when protesters will make their feelings known by marching on the council offices in Bridgend.

"Properties near the Toora wind farm (12 turbines) devalued by up to 35 per cent. That location is spectacular but the Twofold Bay location is even more spectacular. Wind farms create deep divides in communities. If you don't look after your back yard no-one else will," he warned.

A wind development in Moray will deter visitors from returning to the area, according to a tourism survey carried out by a local accommodation provider. A year long survey in the Dufftown-Glenlivet area suggests 17% of people, mainly walkers, would be put off coming back to the area if it had a wind farm. The survey, begun in March by Tomintoul and Glenlivet Highland Holidays marketing group, has had more than 200 forms returned by visitors staying in the Dufftown-Glenlivet area and expects to have 350 returned by March next year.

Developers of a proposed Speyside wind farm have hit back at claims it will deter visitors and insist their plans will promote tourism in Moray. Dorenell Wind Farm on the Glenfiddich Estate will give local tourism a valuable boost and inject ongoing investment into the Moray economy, said Infinergy. And it accused a survey by a local accommodation provider, Tomintoul and Glenlivet Highland Holidays marketing group - which claimed a large number of tourists would be deterred from visiting the area because of the wind farm - of lacking objectivity and claimed it should be discounted because it asked leading questions.

Mr Gallagher's research underpinned by interviews with 85 tourists, selected at random on Raglan streets in January and February suggests visitor numbers would plunge from the current upward trend into decline, with most accommodation providers, tourism activities or attractions hit by the wind farm. ...The company found Raglan would go from a position of having "net word-of-mouth" of 75 per cent positive feedback from visitors to having a net word-of-mouth of 84 per cent negative. "In other words visitors would tell their friends to stay away.

A huge offshore wind farm planned for the Bristol Channel is likely to cause "significant" landscape effects for a very limited section of Gower, the company behind it said. RWE npower renewables made the comment in its draft environmental statement for the Atlantic Array scheme.

Wind farms could cost the Scottish tourism industry millions of pounds and hundreds of lost jobs in a "worst case scenario", a report warned yesterday. The findings came in research that found wind farms had the potential for hitting jobs in tourism. The research was commissioned by the Scottish Government from Glasgow Caledonian University to assess what effect official priorities for wind farms were likely to have on tourism, for good or ill. Four areas were studied - the Borders; Caithness and Sutherland; Dumfries and Galloway, and Stirling, Perth and Kinross. For each area, the researchers estimated the likely impact on the tourism economy by 2015 of all the wind farms needed to meet the renewables obligation, compared to a situation where there were no wind farms.

Ann and Hedley Lamb have spent what seems to be a lifetime developing Barmoor Country Park near Lowick in Northumberland. Now with 100 caravan pitches, it is one of 22 such parks in Berwick borough alone, welcoming thousands of visitors virtually year-round. Bizarrely, strict planning guidelines insist that caravans should be screened from view but a clutch of proposed wind turbines barely a mile up the hill over Barmoor will be highly visible for dozens of miles around - with no such restrictions. "We've planted 8,000 trees to screen the caravans," says Ann. "It's for the planning rules, but it's also good for the wildlife and good for the local environment. I daren't even think about how this will affect our business. The landscape with its historic value is the essence of the place; you're going to kill the golden goose. We need a little bit of common sense.

A TOURIST board has come out strongly against wind farm developments which could impact on Northumberland as a top holiday destination. Northumberland Tourism has called for an independent study in the wake of a rush of renewable energy applications across the county. There are currently eight live applications with another 17 in the pipeline – totalling nearly 300 turbines.

Campaigners in Eden have welcomed a government-sponsored report that highlights the damage wind farms can do to tourism. Members of COLT, Communities Opposing Lamonby Turbines, say the report backs their view. Plans for turbines at Whinash were thrown out after a public inquiry. Further applications for turbines at Lamonby, Skelton and Shap are being opposed by campaigners. The energy policy document, written on behalf of the Small Business Council, focuses on the impact on tourism and the rural economy of putting turbines up in rural areas. The SBC advises trade and industry ministers on the effect of Government policy on small firms. The report refers in part to a survey of 212 Cumbrian firms, in which 42 per cent thought that wind farm developments would detract from visitors’ experiences. Opinions of some in the report would like to see more offshore wind farms.