Christine Grahame MSP’s Private Bill to increase the size of the Pentland
Hills Regional Park is to be applauded (“Farmers and estate managers oppose
MSP’s bid to double the size of regional park over funding fears”, The
Herald, September 30).
Supporters of this Bill are under a major misapprehension if, as reported,
they think “the plan would protect the environment and minimise
developments such as wind farms”. Our organisation was set up nearly 11
years ago to fight the regular efforts of wind farm developers to apply for
planning permission for Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, the largest of the
three regional parks. Despite our best efforts and ignoring the small
turbines, approval has been given, some by councils and some by Scottish
ministers, for 30 turbines at heights of 110 to 125 metres.
An application for another eight turbines is the subject of a public local
inquiry (PLI) and a further six turbines have been applied for and await a
decision. The latter, if refused, will no doubt be the subject of an appeal
to Scottish ministers and yet another PLI .
We petitioned the Scottish Parliament for the conservation and preservation
of all regional parks from inappropriate industrialisation including wind
farms and obtained the full support of the cross-party petitions committee
but, despite this, the Scottish Government ruled that such a Bill was not
allowed.
Nigel Willis,
Chairman,
Save Your Regional Park campaign,
Nervelstone, Lochwinnoch,
Renfrewshire.
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