High Priest of British White Witches, Kevin Carlyon, also known as The High Priest and protector of Loch Ness, has warned he will invoke a hurricane to descend on the loch despite assurances from the Calman Trust that their plans to build a giant Loch Ness monster from 55,000 balloons will pose no threat to the environment.

The trust provides support for young people to move in to their own homes and lead independent lives.

Yesterday, a spokeswoman for the charity, Dr Isobel Grigor, sought to reassure Kevin and another environmentalist, Mikko Takala, who runs a webcam network for Nessie fans to watch activity on the loch from around the world.

The Monsterness event has been backed by the Year of Highland Culture with a grant of £8,000 and takes place at Urquhart Castle on the shores of the loch on October 13.

It involves a three-day residential course for 50 young people who will create their own giant Nessie from balloons, some of which will be filled with helium.

When he heard of the plan, Kevin feared the balloons were being released into the atmosphere and could cause untold damage. But Dr Grigor said Kevin would not need to use his powers because the balloons are biodegradable and they are not going to be released.

"I really think someone has got the wrong end of the stick. We would have the same concerns and part of the planning for the event has to be to ensure it's entirely environmentally friendly.

"We have consulted every agency we have been advised to consult with and there are no objections. We have engaged an international artist who sources balloons which recognise the need for environmental awareness. They are biodegradable and have the lifespan of a leaf should any escape.

"But the intention is that all the balloons will be harnessed to a frame. Most will be filled with air but the neck and head will be filled with helium. We have made arrangements with Highland Council to recycle everything when the event is finished.

But speaking to the Highland News on Wednesday, Kevin was adamant he would be travelling to the loch to cast his spell to stop the stunt.

"If these young people are only receiving training now, there is a real possibility something could go wrong. Thousands of these balloons could be released causing untold damage to the environment. The danger to wildlife and the loch itself could be catastrophic."

White witch Kevin Carlyon has threatened to unleash hurricane strength winds if the proposed Monsterness balloon event goes ahead.

He said the £8,000 the charity received from the Year of Highland Culture could be much better spent.

"If they decide to go ahead with it, I will come up to Loch Ness and invoke hurricane force winds and torrential rain on the day to scupper the event," he added.

Kevin has visited the area more than a dozen times to protect the interests of Nessie, which he believes is a ghost and a spirit of a monster which once lived in the dark waters of Loch Ness.

"Nessie is being exploited and I am sure the spirit of the creature who haunts the loch would turn in its watery grave.

"Whoever planned this idea has been thinking through their rear end. It's absolutely stupid. We have enough problems with the planet."

Mikko added: "The aims of the trust are absolutely laudable. But if they have thousands to spend on a spectacular stunt like this, it should be spent on something much more environmentally friendly.

"This has the potential to go spectacularly wrong and we could have tens of thousand of these balloons littering the Highlands.

"I used to keep livestock and if these balloons are ingested they can cause intestinal and respiratory blockages which can lead to agonising deaths for wildlife and fish."

d.wilson@highland-news.co.uk

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---