Victoria Weldon, Reporter
IT is one of Scotland’s best-loved tourist spots with a long spiritual
history stretching back to the sixth century.
Located off the Ayrshire coast, Holy Isle is now home to a community of
Buddhist monks, as well as local wildlife.
However, a planning application to erect five wind turbines on the
picturesque island, just off Arran, has led to a not-so-Zen outcry from the
local community.
A total of 89 objectors lodged complaints about the proposal amid fears it
will ruin the relatively unspoiled landscape of the island and have an
impact upon wildlife.
However, North Ayrshire Council approved the application using its
delegated authority, which means the council’s planning department made the
decision instead of it being passed to the planning committee.
While the council claims this process was allowed due to the “small scale”
of the application, local resident John Campbell, of Lamlash, claims it was
a “very bad error of judgment” which has prompted anger and suspicion.
The retired chemist, 78, said: “Despite the large-scale opposition, the
council obviously decided the they were going to consider this application
in house when the scheme of delegation indicates that with that scale of
objections it should have been put before the planning committee.
“They should have referred the final decision to the planning committee
then there would have been a proper hearing, giving objectors the
opportunity to present their views and watch the meeting publicly. There is
now a lot of anger about this decision and questions about why it was
taken. There are lots of conspiracy theories going around, and this is
exactly the point – if you make an open decision then you avoid all this
criticism.”
The Samye Ling monks who own the island want to build the turbines in a bid
to become as self-sufficient as possible and reduce their community’s
environmental impact.
However, residents on Arran claim the turbines will damage the landscape
and diminish the value of the island for residents and visitors. bjectors
include Arran Community Council and Arran Civic Trust, as well as local MSP
Kenneth Gibson and MP Patricia Gibson.
Mr Campbell said: “The value of Holy Island as a relatively unspoiled,
valuable landscape for both the community of Arran and visitors is very
significant.
“It’s absolutely astonishing that North Ayrshire Council seems to have gone
against the express wishes of a large number of the community.”
Arran Community Council say they are now looking at what options are open
to them to have the decision reviewed.
A council spokesman said: “Due to its small scale, this application was
defined in statutory regulations as a ‘local’ application for which
officers have delegated authority to make a decision.
“This is not unusual as the majority of planning applications are
determined this way and this practice is in line with the council’s agreed
procedures.”
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