Around 150 people packed out The Hive at Glentrool to view proposals for a wind farm on nearby moorland. The engagement event staged by developers German renewables giant Energiekontor was set up to gauge public opinion on the bid. However, as the crowd filed, in finding anyone backing the controversial Read more…
Contempt for our rural areas THE Minister for Energy and the Environment, Gillian Martin, gave a statement: Vision for Scotland’s Future Energy System, on September 28 to an almost-empty Holyrood debating chamber. When asked by Conservative MSP Tess White MSP if new energy infrastructure projects must always be completed Read more…
When Keith Brander’s father Donald bought an old schoolhouse in the 1960s, it was a near perfect rural scene of rolling fields, native woodlands and unspoiled views. Since then, four generations of the family have enjoyed long holidays at the whitewashed property; and the landscape, with its small farms, native Read more…
Groundbreaking new rules should be brought in that would give communities more control over major green developments in their local area and rights to a share in the profits, a landmark new report recommends. The proposal comes amid an ongoing boom in demand and prices for land in Scotland that Read more…
The spreadsheets below show the S36 scoping schemes and S36 live applications which were available on the ECU website on 1st October 2023. They are listed alphabetically. I have omitted some which are very old and any applications to extend the operational life of consented schemes There’s no doubt some Read more…
Scottish Government-owned Prestwick Airport has expressed alarm at the “magnitude” of being blocked from claiming compensation from wind farm operators for the potential future impact of new turbines on its radar. It follows ministers last month agreeing with the findings of a public inquiry into a proposed wind farm that Read more…
Rushing through wind farm plans IT has been announced that the Scottish Government is cutting the planning process for onshore wind farms to 12 months. It’s a surprise move since most of the existing applications can’t get a grid connection for several years. Why the rush? With National Planning Read more…
The body tasked with protecting Scotland’s environment has had its funding slashed by more than a quarter in real terms since 2010, prompting accusations it is not a “priority” for the Scottish Government. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) is responsible for keeping Scotland’s environment “safe, healthy and sustainable” and Read more…