October 3, 2011
Scotland

Anger at ‘unfair’ rush in wind farm appeal

The Southern Reporter, www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk 1 October 2011

A Tory councillor has hit out at regulations which allow local authorities just three weeks to defend planning decisions.

At today’s full meeting of Scottish Borders Council, Gavin Logan will describe the current system as grossly unfair.

His concerns are aimed at the Scottish Government’s department of planning and environmental appeals (DPEA) which, earlier this month, received an appeal from wind farm company GreenPower.

In June, the firm’s plans for eight turbines at Broadmeadows between the Yarrow and Tweed valleys near Selkirk were unanimously kicked out by SBC’s planning committee which ruled they would have an unacceptable visual impact.

On September 8, Greenpower appealed to the DPEA which then gave consultees, including SBC and affected community councils, two weeks and three weeks respectively to respond.

Greenpower’s Craig Potter said: “We consider the Broadmeadows wind farm application is well conceived and that its design and location are responsible.

“The proposal has been carefully thought through and extensively amended in light of relevant planning legislation and extensive consultations.”

Councillor Logan (Tweeddale East) said: “GreenPower has had at least three months to prepare its appeal.

“Yet our planning department, community councils and the 231 people who objected to this proposal have been given little time to respond and this is grossly unfair.”

Mr Logan will today demand that his council asks the Scottish Government to “look again” at its procedures.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/10/03/anger-at-unfair-rush-in-wind-farm-appeal/