June 16, 2015
Scotland

Protesters accuse windfarm developer of treating Angus community like ‘country bumpkins’

By Graeme Strachan | The Courier | 16 June 2015 | www.thecourier.co.uk

“Country bumpkins” have attacked Eneco UK’s plea for a time extension in its bid to save an Angus Glens wind turbine application.

An appeal for more time has been made to the Scottish Government by developer Eneco UK which submitted an application for 18 turbines between Glen Prosen and Glen Isla on the Angus/Perthshire border.

Raymond Gibson, from Angus Community Windfarm Action Group, said: “There is a growing feeling that Eneco believe they are dealing with a community who are country bumpkins with straw growing out of their hair who will roll over without a word of dissent.

“They now know they face fierce opposition.

“We have confidence that Angus Council and other public bodies will stand shoulder to shoulder with us to object to this ridiculous planning application.”

Mr Gibson said an extension to discuss possible mitigation measures is a “total waste of public funds as all of the A-list objectors have declared that landscape and visual objections cannot be resolved”.

He said: “If Eneco do not intend to withdraw the application let’s have a public inquiry as quickly as possible.

“Residents and consultees are united in opposition.

“The application fails almost every aspect of the Angus Local Plan.”

Having considered the feedback from all consultees including Angus Council, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and RSPB, Jon Masson, who is the technical agent for Axis – acting on behalf of Eneco UK – has written to the Energy and Climate Change Directorate to grant a limited period of further consultation until August 31.

A spokesperson for the developer said: “Eneco has great respect for all local views and it has been asked by some of the community to resolve their concerns as expressed by Angus

Council. Eneco agrees this may be resolved at the local level.

“Eneco’s aim is to facilitate the most efficient and effective process for decision makers and to provide focus by closing in on the main topics early through local consultation.

“This will reduce the overall workload and expense of the public inquiry called for by Angus Council.

“It is not in the interest of the local community or the public to take matters to a public inquiry that may be resolved at the local level in the short term.”

The firm put in an application for 18 turbines between Glen Prosen and Glen Isla, each 125 metres, to the Scottish Government in January, saying the energy produced could supply Scottish Water with up to a third of their annual energy consumption.

The site is approximately six miles north west of Kirriemuir and has been named Macritch Hill after the hill east of the Scottish Water reservoir.

Angus Council, Cairngorms National Park Authority, SNHeritage, the John Muir Trust and Kirriemuir, Inveresk and Stanley community councils have objected to the proposal.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/06/16/protesters-accuse-windfarm-developer-of-treating-angus-community-like-country-bumpkins/