Renewable energy company Ecotricity have lodged an appeal to the Scottish
Government after Dumfries and Galloway Council delayed dealing with their
California windfarm proposal.
It is a move that has outraged Save Wigtown Bay – the action group whic is
opposed to the windfarm plans for Stroans Hill, near Carsluith. Wigtown
Community Council also objected to the proposals.
Martin Green, chairman of Save Wigtown Bay, said: “Ecotricity’s actions
smack of a complete and utter disregard for our local democratic process,
though it isn’t at all surprising. From day one, Dale Vince and his team
have ignored the opinions of Galloway locals, this despite him going on
record with BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today program stating he would look to
only erect turbines in ‘places they work, where they are acceptable to
people and they don’t have harmful impacts.’
“To date, six community councils have objected to the California’proposal,
over 1250 individuals have registered opposition to the project and both
Scottish Natural Heritage and Historic Scotland have voiced serious
concerns about the proposition.”
An Ecotricity spokesperson said: “We submitted a planning application to
Dumfries and Galloway Council which was validated at the beginning of March
last year and, despite authorities having a statutory 16 week time limit to
provide a decision, we agreed two time extensions with the council. We
appreciate that planning departments are always busy and that there has
been a change in personnel over the last year. However, 48 weeks have now
passed without a decision, so we have decided to make an appeal against
non-determination, which is the standard process when a decision hasn’t
been forthcoming.”
The decision on the California proposal now lies with a Reporter appointed
by the Scottish Government.
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