Chamber and committees

Angus Farquhar submission of 10 June 2021

PE1864/CC - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms

I wish to fully support the above petition.

For too long now, so many rural communities have been overrun with applications for onshore wind developments.

Not only is the number of wind applications from different developers a problem for these communities, but what I see as the undemocratic overturning of local authority refusal for developments on appeal to the SNP Government, is completely unacceptable.

It is commonly accepted now by those fighting against the overwhelming number of wind developments, that upon refusal of any particular development by the Regional authority, an appeal is made by the developer to the SNP Government. It seems to me that this appeal is almost certainly approved by the centralised SNP Government, and the local, more democratic decision to refuse ignored.

Nicola Sturgeon herself has stated that power lies with the people of Scotland, and not with Scottish politicians. It is obvious that this is NOT the case when it comes to wind developments in Scotland.

It should also be noted that wind developers are more inclined to choose Scotland for their developments, simply because the planning system in Scotland is more beneficial to their desire to profit from the massive subsidies and constraint payments, which we all must pay regardless of ability to pay, and some believe that the SNP Government are more likely to favour any wind developer over any rural community.

Over the years, I have attended several Public Inquiries into wind developments. I have never spoken at an Inquiry, and I have to say I never would do.

I am not a fit and able person to be confident enough to deal with the vicious and personal attacks I have seen by those representing the developers.

Wind developers are not without resources. Especially if they already own, or have sold on, previous developments which have provided massive profits for them.

They can employ the most aggressive legal team who, in my experience, intimidate, bully and degrade any witness against their development with ease.

Witnesses, including members of the public, Community Council members and Regional Council officials are too often ground down by the developers’ legal team, without any intervention from the Reporter, and too often, objections are discarded, or deemed to be irrelevant. I believe that this is extremely unfair, undemocratic and so one sided, and must be addressed by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish government must provide some sort of protection for witnesses in the form of professional help, so that they can speak freely, without the threats and intimidation from the opposition.

This petition calls on the Scottish Government to bring planning legislation for the determination of onshore wind developments in line with the more democratic system in England. That would be a start, and I support that.

In the longer term, I would go further and wish for an end to all wind developments, and a realisation that no country can develop and prosper with an energy system which relies so heavily upon the weather.

An energy system which is so environmentally damaging, not just the sites where wind turbines are constructed with the destruction of peat, killing of birds, bats and insects, but also in the countries where the turbines are manufactured, (After all, Scotland does not manufacture wind turbines or much of the infrastructure which goes along with them. That economic benefit belongs to foreign companies and workers who care little for Scotland). An energy system which future generations will ask the question, “How could our politicians and decision makers allow the destruction of our landscapes, our environment and our communities, and be so gullible as to believe the promises of wind developers”?