Scotsman letters

Well done to Celia Hobbs (letters 24 April) for pointing out that 49 per cent of council decisions on wind farms, based on expert advice, have been overturned at appeal since 2007. What she omitted to say is that these figures are only for applications for single turbines and small wind farms of 50MW or less, dealt with by Local Authorities and appealed to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division.The figures for Section 36 consents, i.e. for large wind farms over 50MW determined by Scottish Ministers, are even more alarming as consent was granted, overall, in 74% of applications since 2017. 60% were consented even when the Local Authority objected and a Public Local Inquiry was held. Large wind farms were not so common in the early days. In both cases it proves that decisions made by Local Authorities, who know their areas best and the wishes of Local Communities are repeatedly overridden by Scottish Ministers or Scottish Government Reporters acting on their behalf.

Aileen Jackson

Scotland Against Spin

East Renfrewshire