April 21, 2012
Scotland

PM calls for communities to have greater say on turbines

By Ryan Crighton, The Press and Journal, www.pressandjournal.co.uk 21 April 2012

David Cameron has intervened in the row over the number of windfarms being built across Scotland.

The prime minister says giant turbines should not be imposed on the communities that do not want them – calling for local people to have a bigger say in the decision-making process.

The Scottish Government rejected his criticism last night, insisting unsuitable developments are regularly kicked out.

“We shouldn’t be plonking windfarms all over communities that do not want them,” Mr Cameron said.

“The people who live in a community know what’s best for their community and we should give them a greater say”.

A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond said: “David Cameron is obviously as clueless about Scottish planning law as he was about the impact of the UK Budget.

“Every application for windfarm development is assessed against local development plan policy and on its own merits, taking into account the views of statutory consultees, interested parties, local communities and the public. Unsuitable applications are rejected.”

Concern over windfarm development is intensifying across the north and north-east, and on Wednesday Donald Trump will take his fight against turbines to the Scottish Parliament.

The Press and Journal revealed yesterday that a huge turbine has been erected next to one of Scotland’s most historic golf courses.

Members of Royal Aberdeen – the sixth oldest club in the world – have been left stunned after a 218ft turbine appeared near the 14th hole.

Planning permission for the project was granted last year and the turbine completed construction on Monday.

Ronnie MacAskill, director of golf at Royal Aberdeen, said he only became aware of the proposals after planning permission had been granted.

Despite having land just 40ft from the turbine, the club was not notified of the proposal by the council because the local authority had no record of the club’s ownership of the land.

Aberdeen City Council insisted it handled the planning application properly.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/04/21/cameron-intervenes-in-windfarms-war/