In 2014 more people complained to the Scottish Government over large scale wind turbines than any year since 2010, with nearly 6,000 submitting their opposition to planned 50 megawatt developments.
The statistics emerged following a parliamentary question by Scottish Conservative energy spokesman and Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Murdo Fraser.
Since 2010 nearly 24,000 people have registered their opposition to wind developments and the number of objectors in 2014 is more than double those in 2013.
In Perth and Kinross, controversial developments at Rannoch Moor and Crossburns have united local people and conservation charities, including the John Muir Trust, in opposition.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Murdo Fraser, believes that the whole Perthshire landscape could be under threat if the Scottish Government ignore the views of objectors.
However, the Scottish Government’s enthusiasm for windfarms has been laid bare by the fact that only 370 of the 5942 objections related to submissions that were ultimately rejected.
Scottish Conservative energy spokesman and Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Murdo Fraser said:
“The fact these objections have doubled in the last year shows the sheer strength of feeling among the public.
“This isn’t people complaining about a single turbine in someone’s back garden.
“These are major developments that go straight to the Scottish Government because they are deemed too big for councils to consider.
“Developments planned at Rannoch Moor and Crossburns have awakened massive opposition not just in local communities but across the whole of Scotland. Wind farms the size of sky-scrapers are not wanted on beautiful wild land.
“There is a real danger that the whole Highland Perthshire landscape will become dominated by industrial wind turbine developments. This is not the natural environment many locals and visitors wish to see.
“It’s clear from the rise that the SNP is continuing to invite major applications which may fit the Scottish Government’s own policy, but are completely unacceptable to the people who have to live beside them.
“Considering this steep increase, this is a chance for the new First Minister to rein in her predecessor’s obsession with wind turbines, and start listening to the views of rural Scotland.”