Furious local residents are threatening to stage a sit-down protest on the trunk road if the alternative access just south of Golspie and via a route already established for the Kilbraur wind farm, now in operation, is not taken.

The area's five community councils have joined together in opposition and have vowed not to discuss community benefit from the new wind farm until the issue is settled.

But Scottish and Southern Energy chief executive Ian Marchant claims his company have poured considerable resources into investigating the Kilbraur route and would have been quite willing to "progress" it.

He maintains that the sticking point is a failure, following year-long negotiations, to reach agreement with two of the four local landowners over whose ground construction traffic would have to pass were the Kilbraur option to be taken.

The landowners in question are understood to be Highland Council, Sutherland Estates, Farlary crofter Bob Meeres and Peter Nissan, the Danish owner of Balnacoil Estate which marches with Gordonbush Estate.

Suggestions have been made locally that Sutherland Estates, in particular, are demanding too much money for the use of the route. This has been denied.

However, there is also widespread suspicion that SSE have not been serious in their negotiations with landowners and intended all along to use the A9 followed by the single-track Strath Brora route.

Now Mr Marchant says he wants to meet local communities to give a detailed explanation of Scottish and Southern Energy's position.

He outlined his point of view in a letter to constituency MSP Jamie Stone who had written to him to express the concerns of local people.

Mr Marchant writes that although the A9 option had been given the seal of approval by planners at a hearing into the Gordonbush development, SSE were aware that local people would rather the Kilbraur route be used.

This route leaves the A9 at the Drummuie junction, just south of Golspie, and runs for a short distance along a public road before joining an old forestry hill track through Sutherland Estate ground. That hill track – recently upgraded to take Kilbraur wind farm construction traffic – eventually joins the single-track Dunrobin Glen public road.

Were this route to be used, Gordonbush wind farm traffic would then branch off the Dunrobin Glen road at Farlary and cross over ground owned by Bob Meeres. From there, a mile-long extension road would have to be constructed to reach the River Brora where a new crossing would have to be built. Once across the river, wind farm traffic would cross a short distance over Balnacoil Estate ground to Ascoile on Gordonbush Estate. It is here that the hill track leading to the wind farm site is located.

Gordonbush is owned by the Tyser family who no longer live permanently on the estate and stand to gain hundreds of thousands of pounds from the development.

According to Mr Marchant, SSE commissioned a number of surveys including a detailed engineering study towards designing a bridge to cross the River Brora. The total cost of outside consultants carrying out this work amounted to £80,000.

He states: "The findings of the above work confirmed that whilst this alternative Kilbraur route would not be without its challenges, it was indeed technically feasible and worth progressing."

Mr Marchant says that SSE then started discussions with landowners. "We've since reached agreement with two of the four landowners but are unable to reach agreement with the remaining two, despite considerable efforts and giving our best offer for any wind farm access," his letter says.

"We have been negotiating on this aspect for over a year now and it is unlikely that we will be able to reach agreement within a timescale compatible with the project's position in the 'queue' for electricity network capacity.

"A decision has had to be made, therefore, to progress the original consented A9 access route via the villages of Golspie and Brora."

Mr Marchant goes on to point out that the A9 through the two villages is the main trunk road North and as such should be able to take heavy traffic.

He continues: "It is not unusual for wind farm construction traffic to pass through settlements where properties are close to the road and, unlike the A9 at Brora and Golspie, these roads are often narrow and winding in nature."

However the chief executive adds that SSE are well aware of the strength of local opinion. He claims the "facts of the situation" have been absent from recent media reporting and says: "As such, we are in the process of organising a meeting with the community to discuss these concerns and to explain how we have reached our current position. If a constructive dialogue can be generated, I believe that we can move a long way towards addressing the issues being raised and can begin to build and enjoy the positive relationships that we have with so many of our other communities."

Of the four landowners involved, it is not thought that the Highland Council would have any objection to wind farm traffic crossing their land at Drummuie.

Sutherland Estates factor Chris Whealing previously expressed surprise at SSE's announcement some weeks ago that it intended to taking the A9 route. He said at the time he had thought negotiations with the landowners were to continue. Mr Whealing declined to comment this week.

Farlary crofter Bob Meeres confirmed he was one of the four landowners involved and said he had held initial talks with SSE and received an offer, but then negotiations had been shelved pending a final decision by the power company.

He said: "I am one of the four landowners and as far as I'm concerned they have no problems making any deals with me. I want them to come this way and I think it's absolutely ridiculous for construction traffic to go through the two villages. As far as I'm concerned, I could make a deal with them in an afternoon. I'm not going to be greedy. Any extra money is a bonus.

"From what I can gather, it is actually probably just one landowner that is giving a problem – I am not going to say which one."

John McMorran, representative for Balnacoil Estate, said: "My understanding is that Mr and Mrs Nissen have been in correspondence with SSE and had agreed in principle to SSE gaining access to Gordonbush through Balnacoil. I am not aware if SSE have followed up on the initial approach they made."

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