MEMBERS of East Renfrewshire Council have been told to consider their position after proposals to erect a new wind farm south of Neilston were rejected.
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As reported in the Barrhead News last week, proposals to build a massive 39 turbine wind farm were blown away, after energy giant Gamsea submitted an application, which would have seen the 120 foot turbines straddle the East Renfrewshire and East Ayrshire boundaries.
However, it was revealed by a Scottish Government reporter, that East Renfrewshire Council repeatedly failed to disclose significant information, providing misleading information.
Additionally, the council was deemed to “act unreasonably in failing repeatedly to disclose that the Middleton planning permission was issued without a condition”, during an inquiry into the proposed Harelaw Wind Farm.
And much to the annoyance of residents, the two week public inquiry, held last July, required a SECOND enquiry in November, due to a legal implication at a neighbouring windfarm, at public expense.
MSP Jackson Carlaw has now called for an inquiry and accountability over this issue.
He said: “Residents affected by the proposed Harelaw wind farm can now breathe a sigh of relief as the reporter recognises the detrimental impact this wind farm would have on local residents.
“Yet this inquiry has opened a Pandora’s box concerning the shabby conduct of East Renfrewshire Council in repeatedly withholding information and then releasing misleading information to The Reporter.
“We have already have seen their incompetence writ large when no noise condition was put on Middleton Wind Farm and there needs to be accountability for these new costs to the taxpayer.
“East Renfrewshire Council need to hold an internal inquiry as a matter of urgency, publish these results in the public domain and those responsible for this incompetence should consider their position.”
Aileen Jackson, a resident from Uplawmoor, added: “There certainly needs to be a review, public money has been wasted and it has been wasted when there was no need to hold another enquiry.”
It cost everyone involved financially and the time members of East Renfrewshire and East Ayrshire Councils wasted on this was an inconvenience and detrimental to the local authority area.
“It is ridiculous and there is a urgent need for an investigation into this.”
A spokesperson for East Renfrewshire Council said: “The report has only just been received and we are in the process of considering the comments made.
“The matter of the Harelaw application for the 39 turbine windfarm is complex.
“It took in excess of two years for the council to determine to object to the proposal.
“The main enquiry took place almost 15 months ago, six months after the council’s determination.
“We have only this week received the reporters determination on the proposal itself which extends to over 200 pages. We will reflect on the report and the award of expenses over the coming weeks, and decide what action to take thereafter.”
– See more at: http://www.barrheadnews.com/news/barrhead/articles/2013/10/10/474575-public-money-wasted-on-wind-farm-inquiry-/#sthash.7ulA21y9.dpuf
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