By Andrew Liddle
Scottish Government officials in the central belt have been accused of
meddling in local democracy by overturning rejected planning applications.
New figures show planning mandarins appointed by SNP ministers have
overruled council decisions on developments as many times as they have
backed them.
There were 209 planning appeals from developers allowed by central
decision-makers between January and November 2016, compared with 209 which
were dismissed.
Several of those approved by officials in Edinburgh on appeal include
controversial wind farm projects in the north of Scotland, such as the Tom
nan Clach development.
That decision sparked a backlash from local residents, who had raised
concerns about the visual impact on the wild landscape of Dava Moor between
Nairn and Grantown.
Another decision which was overturned in Edinburgh related to US
President-elect Donald Trump’s 82ft flagpole at his golf course in
Aberdeenshire.
In November, a Scottish Government reporter rescinded a local council order
to take down the pole, which had been raised without permission.
The revelations have led to accusations that SNP ministers are “control
freaks” who “care little about local democracy”.
Scottish Conservative local government spokesman Graham Simpson said: “It’s
right that there is an appeals route for planning decisions, and of course
there will be occasions where applications have to be looked at again.
“But these figures show SNP ministers have become control freaks, and care
little about local democracy.
“The message here to developers is don’t worry if your planning application
is unpopular locally and rejected by the council, because you have a
Scottish Government in Edinburgh just as likely to vote the other way.
“The SNP never stops talking about more powers, but it seems to want to
take them from both directions.
“If anything, local authorities should be given more control, not have
ministers breathing down their neck on any planning application which goes
to appeal.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “These figures are entirely erroneous.
“The right to appeal to Scottish ministers against certain decisions made
by planning authorities is contained in legislation.
“Independent reporters decide the vast majority of these appeals and are
required, as is the case for all planning applications and appeals, to make
the decision in accordance with the development plan unless material
considerations indicate otherwise.”
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