I am writing to keep your readers abreast of the situation in the Watten community regarding the proposed 30-turbine wind farm for Spittal Hill.
Watten Community Council is to be commended for responding to public demand to consult the community in an open and democratic way over this wind-farm proposal.
The ballot response rate was high for a local matter and demonstrates the level to which residents feel they would be affected by the proposal. That over 62 per cent of the returns gave a thumbs-down to the wind farm finally gives a true picture of local opinion, despite a well-timed campaign to highlight the potential financial spin-offs by supporters of the development.
I hope that those in the community who have felt pilloried for holding anti-wind-farm views, and who have been tagged as “antis”, “NIMBYs” and “the vocal minority”, can now relax safe in the knowledge that they were in fact in the majority all along.
So well done, Watten! Democracy is alive and kicking – kicking this wind farm into touch.
John Brown, Chairman, Spittal Windfarm Opposition Group, Upper Larel Farm, Halkirk
13 July 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/07/18/wind-farm-ballot-gives-true-picture-of-local-opinion/