Blackdog campaigners say they have been left in limbo – Press and Journal

Campaigners fighting against plans to build an electricity substation in an
Aberdeenshire village have claimed they been left in “limbo”.

The majority of residents in Blackdog united to fight proposals for the
substation, which is planned for a former landfill site, and be connected
to an 11-turbine development at Aberdeen Bay.

Councillors rejected the proposals last year, prompting the team behind the
European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) to lodge an appeal with
the Scottish Government.

The inquiry was put on hold earlier this year to allow for further
submissions to be made, but now campaigners are growing impatient as the
deadline set for the end of the process – June 30 – has come and gone.

Residents – who gathered a petition signed by nearly everyone in the
village asking the reporter to hold a hearing or inquiry before making a
decision – has written again to the government again to reiterate their
concerns about the site.

Campaigner Edna Booth said: “We’re in limbo. June 30 has come and gone.

“We put a petition around the village saying we wanted an inquiry before
the decision is made.

“But there is no inquiry. We can’t stand up there and make our case heard.”

Residents have criticised environmental reports which state there is
confusion about the exact location of asbestos.

The campaigners say prior to regulated dumping, waste included rubble from
World War II bomb raids, asbestos, old prefabs and oil drums.

They fear that disturbing the site will release toxic gases and chemicals,
which could be harmful to people living nearby.

Mrs Booth added: “They don’t know what has been dumped in those landfills
between 1927 and 1960. It’s very worrying.

“We’ve had families living here all their lives, and their fathers before them.

“We’ve been called liars, but what’s written in our letter is eyewitness
accounts over the years.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said last night: “The reporter
considering the appeal received additional information relating to the
application towards the end of June.

“The report’s decision will be published once this has been fully considered.”