Between 2005 and 2015 The Scotsman regularly printed my letters and those
of Professor Anthony Trewavas about wind farms and specific proposals near
the Pentland Hills. Our group, Penicuik Environment Protection Association,
was vindicated when Auchencorth Moss was included in the Pentlands Special
Landscape Area in 2017.
The Government has always said wind farms should be “only in the right
place.” The Pentland Hills, the iconic “Hills of Home” near the World
Heritage Site of Edinburgh, are obviously not the right place. The legally
binding Local Plans of Councils verified this.
Problems began when the wind industry was given free rein by the Scottish
Government and Local Council taxpayers had to pay to defend their plans.
Applications are submitted contrary to the Local Plans. Councils have to
object so a Public Inquiry is necessitated and it seems to me it is then a
lottery as to whether or not the Government passes the application.
Applications round the Hills which have been defeated are, Auchencorth,
taking five years and one Public Inquiry; Spurlens Rig two miles away
refused by Borders Council, taking two years ; Mount Lothian three miles
away, two and a half years and a Public Hearing; Gilston, nine years and
three Public Inquiries; Hag Law near Romanno Bridge, three years and one
Public Inquiry; Fauch Hill West Lothian, eight years and two Public Inquiries.
The cost to Council taxpayers has been enormous.
The exceptional application was Cloich Forest, next to the tourist route
from Edinburgh to Peebles. This was accepted at a Joint Public Inquiry with
the Hag Law application. EDF Energy, having bought this consented wind farm
proposal from the Government (Partnership for Renewables) are considering
putting in an application to raise the height of the turbines from 115m to
150m.
Borders Council would be forced to object and trigger another Public
Inquiry at the expense of Council taxpayers.
Now that subsidies are to be reinstated there must be a better way of
deciding applications.
Leaders and Executives of Councils have to stand up to the Government and
stop this shameful waste of their resources.
Yours sincerely,
Celia Hobbs
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