Windfarm campaign calls for planning inquiry on Skye
Just over a week ago major new grid infrastructure, the Skye overhead replacement line, was approved by the Scottish Government.
These developments, said Andrew Robinson, a spokesperson for Skye Windfarm Information Group, said could 'massively change Skye's landscape and cause untold damage both to the local environment, and to tourism, the island's key industry".
'The Scottish Government,' he said, 'have the power to initiate planning inquiry commissions. These are when you look at a big, strategic plan. Three times we've written to Gillian Martin, the energy minister, to say that we think on Skye because of its unique nature they should have a planning inquiry commission to look at what it's appropriate to build here. But they refused that. They just said that the existing planning process is enough.'
Skye, one of Scotland's top tourist destinations, currently has two windfarms, but there are a further eight at various stages of planning and scoping. These include Edinbane, Ben Aketil, Glen Ullinish, Glen Ullinish II, Ben Sca, Balmeanach and Breakish.
One of these applications, for an extension at Ben Aketil, in which nine turbine will be removed and substituted with 200m high replacements, is now at the desk of the Scottish Government reporter following an objection by the Highland Council, and will be the subject of a local public inquiry on the island this week.
Scottish Windfarm Information Group campaigners (Image: Vicky Allan)
In a previous letter to the Scottish Government, Robinson said: 'There is an urgent need to take a strategic look at all of the plans proposed for Skye. At present residents are overwhelmed by the individual planning applications they face, and may wish to object to.
'The paperwork for each application is huge. Communities are expected to comment and respond to each application yet we have no resources. The developers, usually funded by overseas private equity companies, have access to consultants, PR and marketing experts and endless legal and planning advice.
'The proposed plans will be overwhelming. They can not be justified on basis of need as Scotland stands to more than meet its renewable energy targets if the current consented wind farms across the country are built. The plans will cause untold destruction to Skye's fragile and beautiful habitat.'
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A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Ministerial powers to refer certain planning questions to a Planning Inquiry Commission apply to cases where there are considerations of national or regional importance and a proper evaluation of them cannot be made unless there is a special inquiry for the purpose; and that the technical or scientific aspects of the proposed development are of so unfamiliar a character as to jeopardise a proper determination of that question unless there is a special inquiry for the purpose.
'There are however existing and well-established consenting procedures for renewable and grid infrastructure, including for the consideration of any cumulative impacts arising. Therefore, we have no plans to constitute a Planning Inquiry Commission.
'The Scottish Government has an ambition, as set out in our Onshore Wind Policy Statement, for 20GW of Onshore Wind by 2030 and we are working with the onshore wind industry to ensure that the delivery of this ambition supports our regional and national economies, communities and nature. The UK Government's Clean Power Action Plan respects the Scottish Government's onshore wind ambitions for 2030.'
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