Scotsman letters

Further to previous letters on the Scottish Government’s runaway policy on land-based wind farms, the SNP says it is “committed to supporting our communities to do things for themselves, and to make their voices heard in the planning and delivery of services.”What a load of hogwash, when it comes to the approval of wind farms, community engagement and local democracy fly out of the window in favour of the headlong rush for so-called “green” energy.Renewable energy is an admirable thing and necessary for the survival of our planet – but in the right place and not ruining the beautiful and dramatic landscape for which Scotland is famed worldwide.I live in Dumfries and Galloway where, at the last count, there are more than 30 wind farms – either operational, under construction or consented – comprising some 650 turbines. In my area, the Glenkens, our community council’s latest minutes included 16 further developments that are under consideration.This isn’t a case of Nimby-ism as our tiny parish is already hosting six wind farms.When I wrote to Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Energy, to halt or at least slow down the onslaught of wind farm applications because of the Coronavirus restrictions on public gatherings and council meetings and poor broadband connectivity in our rural area – making effective local consultation very difficult, if not impossible – he passed my concern onto an unelected, unaccountable civil servant. The response? “Suspending the consideration and determination of applications made under the Electricity Act could cause delays to necessary developments and infrastructure provision. The backlog of proposals and derailment of projects could add significantly to the economic dislocation caused by Covid-19.”So I asked a local SNP politician, in the run-up to the Holyrood elections, whether they would be prepared to stand up in Parliament and fight our corner over the onslaught of wind farm applications. I was told my request had been forwarded to the Scottish Government for a response (no doubt from another civil servant). Are individual elected representatives not allowed to offer their own opinions? Are the SNP acting as the ‘thought police’ when it comes to wind farms?It would appear that wind farm companies have a virtual free run in getting their schemes approved with very little consultation and, apparently, very little concern from our SNP politicians. Surely this is not the kind of community support the Scottish Government says it is committed to!Nigel Martin, Carsphairn, Castle Douglas