MSP and COUNCILLOR WARN LOCAL DEMOCRACY AT RISK FOLLOWING STURGEON ANNOUNCEMENT ON WINDFARMS
Jamie Halcro Johnston, Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, has warned that local democracy in Moray is at risk following comments made by Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow in which she ruled out a public veto on windfarm applications and pledged to continue the development of more onshore windfarms. Critics were dismissed as being concerned with “aesthetics”.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: “These comments were made by a Central Belt politician who has no knowledge of, and little interest in, the impact the proliferation of windfarms could have on some of the most cherished upland landscapes in Moray.
“They also clearly demonstrate how completely ineffective Richard Lochhead has been in defending the interest of his constituents, many of whose businesses rely on the beauty of our countryside to attract tourists and bring in investment.
“After years of silence, and only when under pressure from local people, has he said he would act. But this is the result – a slap in the face from his own leader”.
Mr Halcro Johnston added: “No-one denies that there is a place for renewable energy in Moray and elsewhere in Scotland. But local elected representatives should have a say in where they are located.
“Nicola Sturgeon’s comments are obviously intended to allay the fears of windfarm developers, with little consideration of the concerns of local communities.
“The SNP Government has now made very clear to local people in Moray that their opinions come second the needs of SNP renewables targets”.
Councillor Claire Feaver (Scottish Conservative – Forres), a former chair of Moray Council’s planning committee, said: ““Why should local councillors bother to scrutinise applications, and consult with local communities if their decisions are routinely over-turned by the SNP Government in Edinburgh?
“As a result of a decision on a windfarm at Dorenell made the Council being over-turned, one large area of Moray has already lost its status as a Special Landscape Area, due to the industrialisation of the area with turbines and pylons dominating the landscape.
“Other areas will now be at risk as developers bring forward proposals for these gigantic new turbines which will completely dominate the horizon.
“The implications of Nicola Sturgeon’s statement is that the whole planning and consultation process could be effectively rendered null and void.”
Councillor Feaver also called on the environmental impact of windfarms to be properly evaluated.
“It is widely understood that building access roads and sinking vast amounts of concrete for the turbine bases, has a significant effect on the hydrology of the moorland on which these windfarms are built.
“The peat is disturbed, which releases carbon into the atmosphere, and the moors dry out making the areas concerned vulnerable to wildfires which, in turn, releases even more carbon into the atmosphere.
“Is this really about saving the planet? Or about political ideology and developer profits?”
