PRECOGNITIONfor

SUSAN DENYER, ICOMOS-UK

PUBLIC LOCAL INQUIRYinto an application for THE PROPOSED ERECTION of THREE WIND TURBINESatMERRANBLO, ORKNEYTOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997January 20081

Introduction

1.1 My name is Susan Denyer. I am Secretary of ICOMOS-UK, the UK NationalCommittee of ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites. Ihave held this post since 2002. I have over thirty years experience in research,assessment and management of cultural landscapes in Europe, Africa, Indiaand elsewhere and have published widely on cultural landscapes. I am a fellowof the Society of Antiquaries.1.2 I am also World Heritage Advisor for ICOMOS in which capacity I advise onthe assessment and conservation of World Heritage properties outside the UK.I compile ICOMOS evaluation reports on nominated World Heritage sites(WHSs) and present ICOMOS’s views to the UNESCO World HeritageCommittee. At this Inquiry, I am representing ICOMOS-UK not ICOMOS.

Scope of Evidence

2.1 ICOMOS-UK’s evidence will be focused on the implications of the proposedconstruction of three wind turbines on the Outstanding Universal Value(OUV) of The Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage site (WHS), whichwas inscribed on the World Heritage (WH) list in 1999 as a ‘

major prehistoriccultural landscape which gives a graphic depiction of life in this remotearchipelago in the far north of Scotland some 5,000 years ago’

.2.2 I will describe:Background to the Inquiry

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The role of ICOMOS-UK and ICOMOSThe obligations of the World Heritage Convention, 1972OUV of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney WHS and its integrity andauthenticity2

The commitment by the UK Government to sustaining the OUV,integrity and authenticity of the WHS

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The impact of the proposed wind turbines on the OUV, authenticityand integrity of the WHSICOMOS-UK’s conclusions

Background to the Inquiry

3.1 ICOMOS-UK did not object to the original application as it considered thatthe objections by Historic Scotland (HS) combined with good WH policies in place to protect the setting of the WHS, would ensure that this application wasrefused. The Director of Planning & Development of Orkney Islands Councilrecommended rejection in his report of 23

March 2007, as the proposals werenot in line with WH Policies in the Orkney Structure Plan and the Local Planand he concluded that the proposal would have ‘

adverse impact on the WHS and that this could be a legitimate reason for refusal

’.3.2 Against very sound reasons to do otherwise, the Council in April were mindedto approve Merranblo, on the grounds that the scheme would deliver economicand renewable energy benefits and that, in the opinion of Councillors, theimpact on the WHS of turbines on the outer rim of the Zone of Influence, was‘

not serious’

, even though the turbines would be visible from the Ring of Brogdar, Maes How and the Stones of Stenness.3.3 The Merranblo application was called-in by Scottish Ministers to allow thefull impact of the proposed turbines on the WHS to be assessed. It is clear thata decision to approve one set of turbines could set a precedent for others.

The role of ICOMOS-UK and ICOMOS

4.1 ICOMOS-UK, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, UK, isrecognised by Government as having special status with regard to WorldHeritage sites. It is tasked with notifying Historic Scotland, Cadw, DOE NI3