This week Stop Dorenell Wind Farm protesters have mailed out 5,000 pamphlets to homes in Dufftown, Cabrach and the surrounding areas highlighting their claims that the development will damage tourism, poses a potential threat to protected wildlife and will have a negative cumulative effect with other wind farms in the area.

Recipients are also encouraged to register their opposition to the Dorenell development by sending the attached postcards to Moray Council's planning department and the Scottish Government's energy consents unit, or by registering their disapproval by email at the website www.stopdorenellwindfarm.co.uk

But Dutch renewable energy company Infinergy said the development could have a positive impact on tourism with better access to the estate, a staffed wind farm visitor centre, and improvements to estate routes which would enable them to be integrated into the Moray Core Paths Plan.

If the wind farm gets the go ahead it could generate around £354,000 for the area annually over its 25 year operational life. The money would be administered through a community fund headed up by local representatives.

The wind farm objectors received a boost this week when local businesses came out in support of the group.

Walkers of Aberlour, Glenfarclas Distillery and Grant Gordon (shareholder in William Grant & Sons) are backing the campaign to stop the wind farm.

Mr Gordon said: "We are deeply concerned this development will damage the natural image of Speyside that is so crucial to the success of home-grown business and tourism.

"The overall image Speyside projects to the world through its prestigious brands is of a landscape unbridled by large scale development.

"This image, as recognised in the 2007 Moray Tourism Audit, is a natural shop window for Speyside as a tourism destination.

Stop Dorenell Wind Farm spokesman Andy Cameron (left) and fellow members of the group show their scale models of how tall the turbines will be compared to Dufftown Clock Tower. NS

"While we recognise the need for renewable energy, we equally recognise there are other, less sensitive sites for wind farms."

Andy Cameron, spokesman for Stop Dorenell Wind Farm, said the businesses' backing was "hugely significant" and that could not be lost on councillors or the Scottish Government.

He added: "These turbines will be a third as big as anything there is in Scotland. If we stuck something like that up in Elgin we would all see it."

A survey carried out on behalf of Infinergy in the Cabrach, Dufftown, Glenlivet, Tomintoul and Ballindalloch areas showed that just over 41% were in favour of the wind farm, around 38% were neutral and just over 20% were opposed to it.

Mark van Rij, the company's project manager for the wind farm, said: "We have carried out extensive consultations with the community. We understand that tourism is a key element of the local economy and we want to be part of that.

"We feel that our plans to promote tourism on the Glenfiddich Estate will make a worthwhile contribution to the area's economy."

The application for the wind farm is likely to be debated by members of Moray Council's planning committee in August.

h.lawson@northern-scot.co.uk

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