A Tory MP in the Scottish Parliament has accused the Scottish Energy
Minister in the minority SNP-led Scot-Govt of ignoring local communities
and councils in upholding planning appeals by wind energy developers.
Two-thirds of wind farm developments, which are rejected by local councils,
have subsequently been pushed through by Scottish ministers on appeal.
A total of 17 applications were refused by local authorities over the past
year, but 11 of these decisions were then overturned by ministers.
Taking in total wind farm appeals, which includes those against specific
conditions or where there was a failure to reach a decision locally, the
majority are approved by ministers. Just ten were rejected, while 13 were
given the green light.
Alexander Stewart, Tory MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife – who obtained the
figures through parliamentary answers – said: “The minister’s answer to my
question shows the Scottish Government’s clear contempt for local democracy.
“Two-thirds of wind farm applications rejected by local authorities who
clearly know and respect their own rural environments, have been overturned
by the SNP so far this year.
“The SNP is displaying its obsessiveness with wind energy at the expense of
other sources. Communities across Scotland have complained about too many
turbines spoiling local scenery.
“Indeed 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 – displaying clear contempt for local democracy.”
In the most controversial case in the past year Scot-Govt. ministers
approved the 22-turbine Creag Riabhach wind farm on the Altnaharra Estate,
near Lairg, Inverness-shire, despite this being located on a new map of
Scotland’s Wild Lands which were expected to escape developments.
David Gibson, Chief Executive, Mountaineering Scotland, said: “Anyone
concerned about democracy in Scotland should be concerned that decisions
made by locally-elected representatives about wind farm projects are being
regularly overturned on appeal.
“One might take the view that the continuing proliferation of wind farms,
supported by Scottish Government policy and big business, means that the
appeals process could be skewed in favour of approval.”
A poll released by the John Muir Trust earlier this month found 80 per cent
of Scots agree that Wild Land Areas should be protected from large-scale
infrastructure such as industrial-scale wind farms. It also found that 55
per cent of people are less likely to visit scenic areas that contain
massive wind farms.
Helen McDade, head of policy at the trust, said: “When considering such
applications in the future, we would hope the planning minister will
recognise not only local concerns, but also the strong desire nationally to
keep our wild places free from intrusive, insensitive industrial-scale
development.”
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