Claims are being made that the planning system is broken after the go-ahead
was given on appeal by a Scottish reporter to ‘re-power’ a controversial
wind farm near historic Lochindorb.
Nanclach Limited was granted consent by the Scottish Government for its
revised plans for 13 turbines at Tom nan Clach wind farm.
It means there will be four fewer turbines than first planned but they will
be 125 metres in height – 15 metres taller than originally proposed.
The application had been rejected by Highland Council in the summer because
of the visual impact the turbines would have on the surrounding area
including Lochindorb, one-time home of the infamous Wolf of Badenoch. The
site lies within the Drynachan, Lochindorb and Dava Moor Special Landscape
Area.
There had been 161 objections to the revised scheme including from
community councils in Carrbridge and Dulnain Bridge.
Local Highland councillor Bill Lobban (SNP) said: “This decision is yet
another insult to democracy. Quite simply the planning process in Scotland
is broken.
“Allowing decisions to be taken by a single government employee rides
roughshod over the democratic process and it is now high time that the
Scottish Government realised that fact and made drastic changes to the
whole system.
“There is no point bleating on and on about local democracy when the views
of local people and their democratically elected representatives are
ignored time and time again.”
The first Tom nan Clach Wind Farm was approved in 2013 and comprised 17
turbines but with a grid connection date not before 2018.
Esbjorn Wilmar, managing director of Infinergy, commented: “We started
construction of the wind farm’s access tracks this summer and we are
thrilled that it will be the better project that gets to be built on this
fantastic site for wind energy.”
The Scottish Government said it is committed to ensuring the planning
system “works for everyone”.
Minister for Local Government and Housing Kevin Stewart said: “We recently
welcomed the independent review of the Scottish planning system and are
currently taking forward a collaborative programme of work to determine the
scope of further planning reform in advance of a Planning Bill.”
More on this story in the latest Strathy now on sale
0 Comments