No - Wind farms are inefficient, barely covering the energy cost of making and erecting them, and the carbon released into the atmosphere by degradation of the peat by concrete foundations. Harry
Yes - It will help contribute to our renewable energy targets and help reduce carbon emissions. Lynsey Mailer, Contin
No - I am a keen hill walker and try to spend as much of my free time as possible holidaying and walking in Ross-shire. I have been doing this for 30 years. The joy of walking amongst these beautiful hills is in large part due to the feeling of being in the midst of a great wilderness. I realise that this feeling is largely illusory - there are plantations and roads and evidence of man all around. But, nevertheless, it is easy enough to suspend reality and believe that one is alone in a vast landscape. The presence of wind farms destroys this illusion utterly. Suddenly one is in the middle of an industrialised site. One would not care so much if one thought that the wind turbines were indeed saving the planet, but I think that argument is very dubious at best. For me the Lochluichart wind farm is a terrible disaster, and to extend it over Corriemoillie would be worse. Hugo Smith
No - I have recently been troubled by facts pertaining to wind farms built on bogs which release thousands upon thousands of metric tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. A wind farm will make no contribution to offsetting the damage; damage which will be massively compounded by the felling of a large number of trees. What it seems is being proposed is a catastrophic release of CO2, coupled with aggressive physical damage of an area of outstanding natural beauty. As a frequent visitor to this area I am appalled that this would be allowed to go ahead. Wind farms remain a hugely ineffective and ill-researched source of renewable energy. The area already has been submitted to one wind farm which I'm certain will have to be backed up with pylons. As such I would urge you to reconsider proceeding with these intensely destructive and disruptive plans that will devastate local wildlife and local communities. Charles Nelson
Yes - Anyone that stands in the way of progress towards sustainability is crazy (or maybe selfish?) I would be proud to live near this project. Maybe if their property values go down as much as they are complaining they will, I will move there and buy up around the wind farm so I can enjoy the view of the future. Daniel Trostli
Yes - When I see a wind turbine churning out power in the wind, I realise how proud I am to live in a time when our technology is advanced enough to work WITH nature instead of AGAINST nature. Instead of another drilling operation sucking the ir-replenish-able fossil fuels out of the earth, here is something that generates energy from clean free wind. Just one of these turbines will produce enough power to make 230 MILLION cups of tea in a year! I'm so excited about this and as a young engineer I demand that we move forward towards a sustainable tomorrow. I don't want to be handed a world so drowned in effluents and trash that I can't hike Ben Wyvis without choking. Matilda Urie
Yes - I regularly hill walk. Wind farms are almost invisible from the hills and even more so at ground level unless you are very close to them. I am suspicious of "lobbies" working against wind farms. Stuart
No - This is essentially an extension to the Lochluichart wind farm. The Lochluichart wind farm was only approved on the basis of no more than 17 turbines, so approval of the Corriemoillie proposal would reverse this decision. The enlarged wind farm would be highly visible for 20 miles around, and would effectively industrialise this beautiful part of Scotland. Mark
Yes - It is wrong, simply for the reason that it is a Westminster wheeze by people who have no idea of the demography of Scotland - go back and play your games in the "home counties" and leave Ross-shire alone. Jim Murray
Yes - Had Megrahi died in Scotland, in the eyes of the Islamists he would have died a martyr, an innocent man set up by a Western Government for a crime he did not commit. In my humble opinion, this would have put Scotland clearly on the map as a terrorist target. James Waugh
No - As a resident in Invergordon since 1993, I personally would not like to see a waste plant on the old aluminium site or any other place in Invergordon. Since moving to Invergordon, it has changed a lot since 1993, very much for the better, and this idea if it was allowed would undermine the improvements the town has made over the years, so please residents and councillors do not allow this to happen. Mr A N Turner, Invergordon
No - I believe that a general (Westminster) election at this time would cause an unnecessary distraction and would further destabilise the economy. John Finlayson
No - So drivers have to wait 20 minutes to cross the Kessock Bridge? So what? Leave your car in North Kessock (better still at home) and get on your bike! No delays going that way although it can get a shade windy. A fair percentage of those single occupants of cars might also have a look at the train service from Ross-shire which is not half as bad as it used to be. Bring the fares down a bit or offer some incentive to let the train take the strain and you could reduce traffic on the bridge by 30 per cent. Probably. Anon
No - It seems that we are getting less and less each year for what our council tax is paying for. The Highland Council should be ashamed of even thinking of charging for the uplift of bulky goods, but they are a law unto themselves as they seem to fast-track all the cons under the sun to try and get extra revenue out of the people that pay their wages. It's about time that the workers of the Highland Council did their bit (yes I mean work for a living) instead of conning the public as we seem to be paying for too many pen pushers who sit behind desks dreaming of these ridiculous schemes. Alistair C. Wilson, Invergordon
No - A long, cold winter stretches out ahead, energy bills are going through the roof and there is little evidence of food prices coming down, as we've been told they will. J MacDonald
Yes - At last you know it is safe to walk in the pedestrian area. I have seen cars parked on both sides of the street and cars coming down the middle, which left pedestrians dodging cars. On one occasion a driver blew his horn and told me to walk on the pavement! People come from Inverness to shop because there are good car parks and easy access to the high street. Re the shop featured in last week’s paper, there is parking behind the shop and drivers would have a longer walk if they parked in Tesco car park. Shops everywhere are quieter but with a pedestrian area people can browse and shop in comfort. A Happy Pedestrian
No - There are not enough customers. Plus, why let down the the Co-op – they served the the north for years. Why do the big boys want to come in now? Gadjiecoff
Yes - The provision of an 'environmentally friendly' (with possible use of solar power and other heating methods etc) swimming pool on the ever expanding Black Isle is urgently needed for all age groups. Travelling to and fro to other pools is hardly 'green'! Our young folk are missing out on becoming potential Olympic swimmers! Captain and Mrs Kerr, Fortrose
Yes - They should have to pay for the full repair / replacement costs involved and the costs incurred imposing the fine etc, not just £60-80. Alastair Urquhart
Maybe - Can Highland Council turn around a massive loss-making concern? We'd need to see the details of what may or may not be proposed. The chipping away of a network once the envy of the world seems lamentably short-sighted - but it's hard to argue with the cold, hard bottom line. If HC took over, could we expect a hike in our council tax to pay for it? The situation needs someone with A Big Idea, otherwise we can expect to see more closures not too far down the line. M Graham
Yes - Thanks for highlighting an issue which remains a major problem. In an ideal world they would be named and shamed in the same way that someone falling foul of the law for many other offences would be put under the public spotlight through the court process. Being named publicly is the greatest shame for many appearing in the court system for equally "petty" offences such as urinating in the street or being drunk and disorderly. Many would happily pay twice whatever they are fined if only they could escape public censure. Realistically this is unlikely to happen with dog fouling and the only hope is for a long-term process of education to bring a selfish minority into line with what we'd hope for in a decent society. Beth, Black Isle
Yes - Invergordon is in a precarious economic situation at a time when its close neighbour, Alness, seems to be forging ahead and looking a lot brighter. Surely it's the perfect place for a new Asda that would be within easy reach of much of Ross-shire and a welcome alternative to what's already on offer? It seems everyone is looking at Tain at the moment, but those competing plans seem to be bogged down in the planning process. Maybe it's time the Big Four had a closer look at Invergordon? P Mackintosh
Asda - The people of Tain have made it perfectly clear which supermarket they want and I hope that they are given the opportunity to get Asda. The position of the proposed Tesco is worse than Asda's and the traffic on Shore Road would be a nightmare so come on Tain stand up for yourself and fight for what you want and need. Donald MacIvor
