March 20, 2015
Scotland

Conservative candidate backs locals on windfarms

Carrick Gazette | 19 March 2015 | www.carricktoday.co.uk

The Conservative candidate fighting the Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock seat in the General Electionon May 7 has welcomed an announcement designed to help communities deal with windfarm applications.

Lee Lyons, has highlighted a recent policy announcement made by Scottish Conservative and Unionist party leader Ruth Davidson, which would see the party hand over more powers to local communities to deal with windfarm applications at a local level.

The Conservative announcement comes after criticism of the Scottish Government overturning decisions on windfarms which have been rejected at a local level both by residents and also by council planning committees such as South Ayrshire’s Regulatory Panel.

Conservative plans would see communities receiving a right to block windfarms meaning the Government couldn’t overturn the decision against the wishes of local people.

And the party also wish deliver a new valuation system which would allow people to recover the lost market value of homes affected by windfarms if they are successful in forthcoming elections.

Lee, who is a resident of Kirkmichael said: “These are fantastic proposals that have been announced and if achieved they will help empower local people in rural communities and take power away from Edinburgh-based politicians.

“I’ve met many people during this campaign in Carrick who are galled when despite the community and the council are against a windfarm development, the SNP-led Scottish Government bulldoze it through anyway.

“Local people need to have the final say on such projects and if I’m elected in May I will do my upmost to ensure that happens”.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/03/20/conservative-candidate-backs-locals-on-windfarms/