June 19, 2021
Letters, Scotland

Wind farms should pay compensation

Readers' letters | Edinburgh Evening News | Saturday, 19th June 2021 | www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com

In her letter to your paper, Celia Hobbs asks why there is no compensation for those adversely affected by the erection of wind turbines close to their homes (News, 20 May).

As she concludes, an obvious reason is that the wind industry finds that bribes to the wider community is very much cheaper.

I spoke to Alex Salmond at the SNP conference at Aviemore some 14 years ago, where incidentally the wind industry was strongly represented. I asked him to consider the terrible distress being caused by wind turbines to many near neighbours.

He responded that the difficulties faced by these people were no different to those experienced by close neighbours of other necessary infrastructure, such as new roads or airfields.

I replied that the situation was very different because no compensation was available to those affected by wind turbines, unlike those affected by other necessary infrastructure.

He seemed surprised and said that perhaps this was something that would have to be considered.

As far as I know, nothing has changed. Why?

I agree with Celia Hobbs. Compensation should be readily available to those whose properties are devalued and are otherwise affected.

The Scottish government has had time enough to address this problem. Why haven’t they?

Fiona Ainslie, Ardovie, Brechin.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2021/06/19/wind-farms-should-pay-compensation-2/