Stalwart lets blast over windfarms
Bill Brown lashes out at claims of personal bias in turbines objections
A far north community stalwart has hit out at criticism he has faced from would-be windfarm developers.
As chairman of Caithness West Community Council, Bill Brown claims he has been subjected at planning hearings to unwarranted criticism.
Farmland between Thurso and Reay is a hotspot for prospective turbine ventures, with a clutch of proposals having been tabled to add to the existing six-tower cluster at Forss.
In opposing all the prospective new windfarms, the community council insists it is reflecting the views of local people.
Mr Brown said: “I’m getting it thrown down my neck every time I represent the community council’s view at planning hearings.”
Mr Brown said developers had sought to misrepresent the group’s stance as what they perceive as his personal opposition to the schemes.
He cited the public local inquiry into Orkney firm Scotrenewables’ bid to put up three turbines at the Hill of Lieurary.
“I was slated on a personal level,” Mr Brown said. “It was said that the chairman and all his relatives had sent in objections.
“It becomes so frustrating, I just wonder if it’s worthwhile for the community council to get involved.”
He said similar flak came at the recent planning hearing centring on local businessman Charlie Sutherland’s plans for a five turbine venture to the south of Shebster.
Mr Brown said: “Once again, I was singled out and accused of not being representative.”
The community council has held public meetings and, in the case of the plans for the proposed 21-turbine wind farm at Baillie, a ballot.
Mr Brown questioned whether the community council should hold a ballot covering the proposals for Shebster, Lieurary and the extension planned to the Forss windfarm.
Other members claimed the exercise would be a waste of money, insisting the community council has taken care to ensure its stances on individual applications take account of the local majority view.
Vice-chairman Derrick Milnes: “All the meetings we held and the ballot on Baillie were clearly against the developments. I don’t think holding another ballot would make any difference at all.
“To suggest we haven’t taken into account the views of people in the area is complete and utter nonsense.”
By Iain Grant
12 June 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
Some possibly related stories:
The copyright of this article is owned by the author or publisher indicated. Its availability here constitutes a "fair use" as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law as well as in similar "fair dealing" exceptions of the copyright laws of other nations, as part of National Wind Watch's effort to advance understanding of the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development. For more information, click here.
