Callanish threatened by another windfarm (view the stones with your back to it says Councillor!)

Image credit and © Chris Brooks, Heritage Action

Views from the majestic Callanish Stones are once again threatened by a proposed windfarm, this time in the form of two turbines each 67 metres high on the island of Great Bernera, nearly five miles away.

Despite the importance of the views you might think there was little hope that the megalithic card would carry much weight bearing in mind how far away from the stones the turbines are going to be. But no, Historic Scotland has said the turbines would break planning policy by having

“a significant adverse impact on Calanais’ setting which contributes considerably to its cultural significance”

and

“Calanais’ setting, extending out to the skyline, is central to its understanding, appreciation and enjoyment, and contributes to its cultural, aesthetic and spiritual values. It forms the centre of a wide prehistoric ritual landscape, incorporating a number of related and often intervisible stone circles, standing stones and natural features.”

Bravo!

Meanwhile, down in Wales work at Mynydd Y Betws  continues, without heed to such fancy talk. One of the Councillors supporting the Hebrides scheme hit out at conservationists’ intervention saying tourists to Callanish “should turn their backs to the turbines and observe the monoliths from a different angle if they really wanted an uninterrupted view.” There are those that might say that was outrageous philistinism. But then, the authorities seem to be prepared to tolerate the same solution at Mynydd Y Betws so obviously it can’t be!

NEWS: Mick Aston clarifies

A Statement by Professor Mick Aston. (13 Feb 2012)

As a result of my interview in British Archaeology there have been many comments and articles which misinterpret completely the points I was trying to make, which were about aspects of the television production side.

There is nothing that I have said in the interview with Mike Pitts that is in anyway to do with the archaeological side of Time Team.

Nobody should draw any conclusion from what I have been quoted as saying that I am at all unhappy with the standard of archaeological work that has been carried out over the last few series including last year.

I think the archaeology that was done this year, including the sites I was not on, was really, really good and this has been the case for several years now.

I have complete confidence in colleagues like Francis, John, Jacqui, and the digging team. People like Jim in development and Tim Taylor, as well as the post excavation work done by Wessex Archaeology, and these people will make sure that the archaeology is done properly, whatever happens on the TV production side.

Time Team Tv production