More than five months after a public inquiry at Colintraive village hall into the proposal, ministers have agreed with the findings of inquiry reporter Karen Heywood that the project would have a "significant detrimental landscape and visual impact" on the area.

"In this case, I consider that the landscape and visual impacts of the proposed wind farm would be significantly detrimental that they would not be outweighed by the benefit resulting from the provision of renewable energy," Ms Heywood stated in her report.

The developer, Argyll Windfarms - who had just recently had a meeting with Bute's Community Council members regarding a potential annual payout of £64,000 to the island if the project got the green light - were reluctant to provide The Buteman with a full comment until their legal team went over the report.

"At the moment we are just reviewing their decision," company director Mungo Tulloch told The Buteman. "We are very disappointed with the news."

One of the major talking points at the inquiry was the impact the 32 megawatt wind farm might have on tourism, which the council argued would have a negative effect on the industry on Bute and the surrounding area.

"Although I reach no definitive conclusion that the wind farm would have a detrimental impact on tourism in the local area and in Bute in particular," Ms Heywood wrote, "I do have reservations about the potential impact of approval of a wind farm, especially given my conclusion that the wind farm would be likely to be a focal point in the views from Port Bannatyne and Rothesay."

News of the project's refusal was greeted with delight by its detractors, who once again have seen Scottish ministers side with the local communities after they dismissed the Corlarach Hill wind farm project in the Cowal peninsula last May.

"It's good news for common sense," said Tony Harrison, owner of the award-winning Balmory Hall B&B on Bute, who gave evidence at the inquiry in support of Argyll and Bute Council's original decision to turn down the application.

"A view which has been very much part of Rothesay's landscape for more than one hundred years will remain unspoilt.

"It's not a decision about being for or against wind farms, it's a decision about where they are sited. There are plenty of places where they can be efficiently sited without destroying the landscape.

"After the decision at Corlarach earlier this year, it would have been incongrous for them to accept it."

In her conclusion, Ms Heywood pointed out the importance of considering each project as a separate entity without relying on current government policy.

"National policy encourages the generation of electricity from renewable sources," she wrote, "and although small in relation to renewables targets, the contribution of 32MW of installed capacity is a significant benefit of the proposed wind farm.

"However, despite government support for renewable energy generally, this does not mean that support is unqualified and that every potential scheme must be approved regardless of its impacts."

For more coverage of the Black Craig application, see also:

Community council objects to wind farm - from www.buteman.co.uk, 26 Oct 2006
New submission for Black Craig wind farm - from www.buteman.co.uk, 20 Sep 2007
Wind farm turmoil returns as inquiry begins - from www.buteman.co.uk, 15 April 2009
Wind farm developer poses £64,000 question - from www.buteman.co.uk, 2 Sept 2009

...and for the Corlarach development:

Bute waits for wind farm hearing - from www.buteman.co.uk, 6 Dec 2007
Wind farm plan is thrown out - from www.buteman.co.uk, 29 Jan 2008
Corlarach inquiry set to begin - from www.buteman.co.uk, 16 Jan 2009
Wind farm appeal rejected by ministers - from www.buteman.co.uk, 28 May 2009