Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party press office
Sunday, November 6, 2016
FAO: all newsdesks
Embargo: for immediate release
Two-thirds of windfarm applications rejected by local authorities have been overturned by the Scottish Government so far this year.
Research has revealed, of the 17 appeals submitted to and ruled upon by ministers in Edinburgh, 11 have been allowed, with the Scottish Government backing councils on just six occasions.
It means windfarm developers have a success rate on appeal of 64 per cent.
The SNP has been consistently criticised for obsessing with wind energy at the expense of other sources.
Communities across Scotland have complained about too many turbines spoiling local scenery, while some councils have even asked for moratoriums to be put in place to cope with the influx of planning applications.
Yet despite claiming to respect local democracy, the SNP has repeatedly overruled decisions made by councillors and planners.
On top of the 11 windfarm applications overturned in 2016, the Scottish Government planning reporter has been even more likely to wave through appeals for solitary turbine applications.
Of the 10 applications submitted, local authorities have been sided with on just three occasions.
The Scottish Conservatives said this was more evidence of prioritising wind energy over other more reliable sources, and centralising decisions that should be made locally.
Scottish Conservative energy spokesman Alexander Burnett said:
“The SNP’s obsession with onshore wind energy is damaging Scotland’s countryside and ruining local democracy.
“Too often, when these applications are lodged, the people say no, council planners say no and local elected representatives say no.
“You’d think the Scottish Government would respect this, yet still we see ministers in Edinburgh pulling ranks and acting like they know what’s best for rural Scotland.
“Of course wind energy has a place in Scotland’s energy mix, but only when the turbines are not ruining local scenery and upsetting those who have to see them every day.
“The SNP should be opening its mind to other sources like shale extraction, especially at a time when our coal-powered facilities are running out.
“But instead, it’s continuing on its bloody-minded path of having Scotland’s countryside plastered with unreliable and intermittent windfarms.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
Below is a list of the windfarm applications which have been successfully appealed to the Scottish Government so far in 2016:
Kenly Farm, Boarhills, St Andrews
Cairnhill, Turiff, Aberdeenshire
Kittymuir Farm, Millheugh Road, Stonehouse
Larbrax, Leswalt, Stranraer
Halsary Wind Farm, Halsary Forest, Watten, Near Wick
Achlachan 2 Windfarm, Watten
Auchentirrie Farm, Rothesay, Isle of Bute
Land North East and North West of Farmhouse Braidlie, Hawick, Borders
Land at Barwhillanty Estate and Glenswinton Farm, Parton, Castle Douglas
Camilty Plantation, Harburn, West Calder
Land North and East of Corlic Hill, Greenock
Below is a list of those appeals that were rejected in the same timeframe:
Land to the North West of Blair Farm, Glasgow Road, Kilmarnock
California Wind Park Development, Land North of A75m Between Gatehouse of Fleet and Creetown
Blackshaw Farm, West Kilbride, Ayrshire
Brown Muir Hill, Rothes, Moray
Straid Farm, near Pinmore Station, Lendalfoot, South Ayrshire
Land South East of Halmyre Farmhouse, Romanno Bridge, Borders
For more information, visit:
http://www.dpea.scotland.gov. uk/CaseSearch.aspx?T=2
Adam Morris
Head of Media
Scottish Conservatives
0131 348 5615
07876 396 334
adam.morris@parliament.scot
Twitter: @adammorrisedin
Graham Lang chair of campaigning group Scotland Against Spin said
“Where on shore wind is concerned the Scottish Government does not respect local democracy and are a target driven autocracy. No one knows better that the Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse, as a resident in the Scottish Borders where some areas are saturated with turbines, the depth of well founded planning based objections from Local Authorities, Community Councils and thousands of individuals. People are entitled to wonder if there is pro-wind bias among Reporters determining appeals and those advising Scottish Scottish Ministers”
1 Comment
Stop the gravy train · November 7, 2016 at 9:09 am
Corruption, plain and simple, The DPEA reporters dance to the tune of their paymasters. Democracy, protection of the environment, health issues etc. don’t come in to it. Why can Scotland’s rural residents not have the same protection from inappropriate wind development that their neighbours in England and Wales do?