It's being proposed that a large windfarm be sited on the Sleeping Beauty
mountains, on the Isle of Lewis, in the Western Isles of Scotland in the UK.
We have been told that a decision will be made on 13th January so action needs to
be swift. Paul Smith is the officer in charge of planning and he can be emailed at Paul.Smith@scotland.gov.uk
Mail from Cheryl Straffon below gives details:
You probably know of the 'Sleeping Beauty' or 'Sleeping Mother' or 'Sleeping
Goddess' mountain, as it is variously called, on the island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides off the
west coast ofScotland. This amazing mountain (called in Gaelic 'na Mointeach = the Old Woman of the
Moors) forms the profile of a sleeping woman when viewed from the Callanish stone circle.
At the major southern standstill of the moon (every 18.6 years - next one due in
2006) the moon appears to rise out of Her legs, creep low along her body, silhouetting first one
part and then another, hang low over her breasts, and then disappear behind a hillock, only to
reappear inside the circle of stones at the foot of the tallest central one and at the head of the
burial cairn. This spectacular sight is pure megalithic magic: a perfect blending of astronomy,
ritual, landscape and Goddess.
Now the mountain is under threat - from a proposed wind farm, which if it goes
ahead will permanently disfigure the 'Goddess' shape of the hills. An application has been made to
the Scottish Ministers by Beinn Mhor Power Ltd of 39 Castle Street, Edinburgh, Scotland EH2 3BH to
construct a 133 turbine windfarm on the top of the peaks that constitute the 'Sleeping Beauty'.
Irrespective of the value of windfarms as renewable energy, the proposed location for these wind
turbines will directly affect the appearance of the Sleeping Beauty mountain and the sight of the
standstill of the moon.
Objections to the siting of the turbines can be made to the Scottish Executive -
but action must be taken immediately. We have only until 13th January to object. If you feel
strongly about this please e-mail your objections and representations to Paul.Smith@scotland.gov.uk (the Consents & Emergency Planning Unit of the
Scottish Executive in Glasgow) stating that you are objecting to the specific location of the wind
turbines, and the adverse effect this may have on the appearance of the hills and the local economy
of Lewis, which attracts thousands of visitors to Callanish and to view the Standstill.
Many thanks
Cheryl
