Moray Council was the first local authority in Scotland to call for a
moratorium on windfarm developments.
And the chairman of its planning committee warned last night the payments
now being offered by the renewables industry could be perceived as a bribe.
Douglas Ross said: “Clearly those living the nearest to wind turbines will
be the most affected by their presence.
“While it is right and proper that a community benefit payment is made, I
would be very nervous that the introduction of this payment could be seen
by some as a bribe to stop the people living in the shadow of a wind
turbine from raising any objection to it.
“I feel very strongly that community benefit should be negotiated only
after a planning application has been determined.”
One of the most controversial developments in the region has been the Brown
Muir windfarm near Elgin, which was originally tabled as a 19-turbine
scheme but is in the process of being scaled down.
Innes Community Council has objected to the project.
Community council secretary, Peter Bush, said: “To be perfectly honest we
would not even enter into discussion on this until the windfarm has passed
through the planning stage. Innes Community Council would not have anything
to do with any benefits. We sort of see it as a bribe.”
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