The deputy leader of Aberdeenshire Council has warned residents of a barrage of new wind turbines across the region.
New figures have revealed that up to 1,000 turbines have been granted permission across the north-east – and 700 are still to be built.
In an exclusive interview with the Press and Journal, Councillor Martin Kitts-Hayes said these structures could pop up on the landscape at any time.
Campaigners and experts have previously warned that areas of Aberdeenshire already have too many turbines on the skyline.
But it is estimated that for every mast built, another three already have planning permission.
Mr Kitts-Hayes said: “I think people would really get a shock if they realised just how many turbines have planning permission across the area.
“There are currently around 280 built all over Aberdeenshire, but that is a fraction of the number which have permission.
“Around 1,000 turbines have been approved so far which means that only about 30% have been built so far.
“If you imagine the areas with lots of turbines currently and then triple that.
“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have an issue with turbines, in fact I quite like them, but there are areas with far too many now.”
The Inverurie and District member also said that deciding on wind turbine applications was difficult for area committees as the number increased.
He added: “My committee in Garioch has a policy where we automatically carry out a site visit for turbines.
“However, it is up to the individual committees to decide whether or not they go down the same route. But all councillors have to be careful to be as fair as possible, because the anti-turbine lobby monitor every vote.”
Figures released by Scottish Natural Heritage revealed that wind turbines can be seen from almost half the country.
And new figures, released by the Conservative party, revealed that seven turbine applications are submitted every day in Scotland.
Nick Orpwood, from Cuminestown, chairman of Concerned About Wind Turbines (CAWT) added: “People would be shocked by the figures because the information isn’t given to them. Surely it is the council’s job to show people where turbines are going.”
Linda Holt, spokes-woman for pressure group Scotland Against Spin, said that people are being lulled into a false sense of security over turbines.
She said: “No one has accurate figures for consented turbines. A moratorium is long overdue.”
An Aberdeenshire council spokesman said 933 individual turbines had been approved in the region. He couldn’t give “exact” figures on the number which were built. He added that 56 of those were approved on appeal after being initially rejected by councillors.
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