MSP for the Cowdenbeath constituency, Alex Rowley, has this week written to
the Minister for Communities, Social Justice and Pensioners Rights, asking
for a meeting to discuss the Little Raith Wind Farm extension planning
application which he claims is ‘bypassing’ the democratic processes.
The MSP has also said that he has contacted the Director of Public Health
for Fife requesting a meeting to discuss the possible health impacts from
the Little Raith site on residents in Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly.
Speaking to the Times Mr Rowley said, “It is clear that council officials
were rigorous, robust and conscientious in dealing with this application
and tried time and again to agree a timeline with the applicant that would
allow for the proper consideration and democratic process to be followed.
“I suspect, however, that this company decided the best chance they had of
getting this application through was to go for non determination and hope
the Scottish Government would pass it. I want to discuss this matter with
the minster responsible for planning, Mr Alex Neil, as it would be a
travesty against democracy if this was allowed to happen”.
The Times understands that the process followed by Fife Council, was as
follows; Fife Council had pre-application discussions with the applicant
and stated that they felt they could not support the application.
(26.3.2014). The pre-application also requested a processing agreement be
drawn up given the complex nature of any application should it be
submitted. The applicant did not agree to this.
The applicant proceeded to submit the application (18.07.2014) and the 4
month target date was 18.11.2014. Fife Council followed due process and
carried out the planning assessment. Following comments from Scottish
Natural Heritage and Environmental Protection Services, stating the
application could not be supported the applicant submitted additional
information on 29.10.2014. Again it was stated that this information did
not change the recommendation of refusal. At the request of the applicant a
further meeting was held with the applicant on 25th November.
It was again reiterated that the application could not be supported and the
Case Officer set out a timeline for presenting to the 2 Planning Committees
(central and west) immediately following the Christmas holiday period.
Again a processing agreement was mooted to the applicant and not accepted.
The Case Officer followed due diligence by allowing the additional
information and final meeting in November. A time extension had not
formally been agreed by the applicant so they then exercised their right of
appeal for non-determination on 24.12.2014. The Director for Planning and
Environmental Appeals, not the applicant, informed Fife Council of this.
The appeal is currently underway and the reporter has all the information
to hand and will be shortly carrying out a site visit.
The appeal is to be carried out via written submission and not through a
hearing.
Mr Rowley said, “It is clear from the timeline that this application would
not have been supported and we cannot have a system where companies on that
basis try to get the approval through the back door.
“I am also concerned that these new turbines would be even closer to houses
and I am raising health issues including constituents now suffering from
headaches caused by flicker and others with sickness and other symptoms
associated with living too close to wind farms.
“I am seeking a meeting with the Director of Public Health as I am pushing
for a full investigation into the health impacts on people living close to
this wind farm”.
Kennedy Renewables, who submiited the plan for a five turbine extension at
the operation, have been trying to progress the application but have been
waiting some months.
If the application is successful the 4Winds Trust community fund would
increase signicantly when the new turbines came into operation.
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