The Scottish Conservatives have launched an action plan for rural Scotland
calling for more powers and more opportunities for all.
The plan includes a pledge for local councils to be able to place a
moratorium on new wind farms and ensure people whose property prices have
dropped are compensated.
Latest figures reveal the number of public objections to large-scale wind
farms has doubled to around 6,000 in the last year.
When councils demanded a moratorium on wind farm applications the Scottish
Government said it would be an “unprecedented step in Scottish planning
practice.”
But with a moratorium on shale gas exploration announced recently the
precedent has now been set.
Berwickshire MSP John Lamont said: “Regardless of your views on the merits
of large scale wind farms, it should be local people deciding whether or
not they are suitable for the area.
“The SNP’s obsession with wind farms has resulted in them being plastered
across the Scottish Borders.
“Let’s hand more power back to local councils. It should be up to local
communities whether they want a wind farm on their back door.
“So I support councils getting the right to block new wind farm
applications – and compensation from developers for people whose properties
fall in value as a result.”
Scottish Conservative energy spokesman Murdo Fraser said of the plethora of
wind farm applications in rural Scotland: “It puts a massive strain on
council planning departments, which in turn causes anxiety to those in
communities whose surroundings would be severely impaired.
“Onshore wind has a place as part of a balanced energy approach, but the
Scottish Government has placed far too much emphasis on them.”
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