Precious puffins at risk from terror turbines on new wind farm

SCOTLAND's iconic seabirds could face extinction after the SNP Government granted permission for one of the world's largest offshore wind farms to be built.

- By David Walker

Up to 307 turbines will be built in the Firth of Forth Berwick Bank scheme, near key seabird colonies like Bass Rock and the Isle of May.

SNP ministers confirmed yesterday that they had passed the plans, despite developer SSE admitting in its own environmental impact assessment that more than 31,000 bird crashes into the giant structures are estimated during their lifespan.

Alarming

Conservationists have spent years building up the seabird population on the east coast. But all their work helping species such as puffins, razorbills, guillemots and gannets flourish may be spoiled by the creation of the massive turbines.

The island of Craigleith, just off North Berwick, has seen a dramatic resurgence in its puffin population after nearly two decades of conservation work.