By Douglas Dickie
Healthy n Happy Community Development Trust are considering an appeal
against the decision to block their plans for a 76.5-metre turbine on
Flemington Farm.
The Reformer broke the news on our website last Thursday that councillors
were set to reject the plans at a committee yesterday (Tuesday).
And the news was confirmed, with members following officer’s advice that
the plan didn’t comply with parts of the local development plan.
Campaigners against the turbine had launched an active campaign to halt the
project, and both sides clashed numerous times over the past 12 months.
The charity had insisted the turbine was needed to fund their work over the
next two decades. They are facing funding cuts from April, including a 100
per cent cut to their core funding from the council.
After the decision, a statement from Healthy n Happy said they were
“surprised, curious and disappointed”.
The statement said: “We have the right to appeal the council’s decision and
we will consider this. However, it will not be a surprise to know that we
have not been comfortable being in conflict with some local residents.
“We need to stimulate healthy debate among local people about renewable
energy and what kind of future environment we want for our children and
their children.
“Many local people living in Cambuslang and Rutherglen supported our
turbine proposal and many did not.
“Those who didn’t organised and mounted a very strong campaign against our
proposal, while also acknowledging the excellent work done by Healthy n Happy.
“Our application to erect a turbine was not a luxury, it was a necessity to
support our work over the next 25 years.”
However, the charity vowed to take the setback “on the chin”.
In stark contrast, campaigners could barely hide their delight after the
decision. Liisa Hepworth, who lives in Loanend Cottages near the proposed
site, said: “We were all quite emotional that this fight is over and we can
get on with our lives and not worry about this huge turbine that would have
impacted on us. We just hope Healthy n Happy see the sense in not appealing
due to the strong feelings in Cambuslang and Blantyre, especially.”
Healthy n Happy first revealed plans for the turbine in February 2015.
It immediately sparked an angry response from those living nearby. The plan
was opposed by Halfway Community Council while Margaret Ferrier MP called
for a halt to the project. James Kelly MSP also expressed his concerns.
Over 1,200 letters of objection were received by the council. The plan also
received 409 letters of support.
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