Two-thirds of wind farm rejections are overturned
● Scottish Government accused of ‘contempt for local democracy’
Wind farms are being pushed through planning by the Scottish Government across vast areas of the country as ministers regularly overrule local decision-makers.
Official figures reveal major turbines have even been approved in areas designated “wild lands” under new national conservation plans.
The Scottish Government has been accused of showing “contempt for local democracy” as it pursues an “obsession” with Green energy sources.
But ministers insist they always consider local opinions and decisions are reached in line with clear guidelines. Two-thirds of wind farm developments, which are rejected by local councils, have then been pushed through by Scottish ministers on appeal.
A total of 17 applications were refused by local authorities over the
past year, but 11 of these decisions were then overturned by ministers.
Taking in total wind farm appeals – which includes those against specific conditions or where there was a failure to reach a decision locally – the majority are approved by ministers. Just ten were rejected, while 13 were given the green light.
Conservative Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alexander Stewart said, who obtained the figures through parliamentary answers, said: “The minister’s answer to my question shows the Scottish Government’s clear contempt for local democracy.
“Two-thirds of wind farm applications rejected by local authorities, who clearly know and respect their own rural environments, have been overturned by the SNP so far this year.”
He added: “The SNP is displaying its obsessiveness with wind energy at the expense of other sources.
“Communities across Scotland have complained about too many turbines spoiling local scenery.
“Indeed, some councils have even asked for moratoriums to be put in place to cope with the influx of planning applications, yet despite claiming to respect local democracy, the SNP has repeatedly overruled decisions made by councillors and planners – displaying clear contempt for local democracy.”
The push towards green energy sources, including wind farms, is driven by the SNP’S government’s pledge to generate all of Scotland’s electricity needs from renewables by the end of the decade.
Traditional power stations such as the now closed Lon- gannet and Cockenzie coalfired facilities in Fife and East Lothian are viewed as “dirty” energy sources as they pump out carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming.
But there are growing fears that the turbines are scarring many of Scotland’s most pristine natural landscapes, prompting calls for a moratorium on development.
The most controversial case in the past year saw ministers approve the 22-turbine Creag Riabhach wind farm on the Altnaharra Estate, near Lairg, in the north Highlands,
“Communities across Scotland have complained about too many turbines spoiling local scenery”
ALEXANDER STEWART
despite this being located on a new map of Scotland’s Wild Lands which were expected to escape developments.
Mountaineering Scotland chief executive officer, David Gibson: “Anyone concerned about democracy in Scotland should be concerned that decisions made by locally-elected representatives about wind farm projects are being regularly overturned on appeal.
“One might take the view that the continuing proliferation of wind farms, supported by Scottish Government policy and big business, means that the appeals process could be skewed in favour of approval.”
A poll released by the John Muir Trust earlier this month found 80 per cent of Scots agree that Wild Land Areas should be protected from large-scale infrastructure such as industrial-scale wind farms. It also found that 55 per cent of people are less likely to visit scenic areas that contain massive wind farms.
Helen Mcdade, head of policy at the trust, said: “When considering such applications in the future, we would hope the planning minister will recognise not only local concerns, but also the strong desire nationally to keep our wild places free from intrusive, insensitive industrialscale development.”
The Scottish Government insists that “clear planning policies” are in place to ensure windfarmsaredevelopedonly in appropriate locations.
A spokesman added: “Planning reporters consider all relevant information and representations from the local community.”
One night, in January 2012 in a bar in Tollcross, my experience of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe changed forever.
Andy Gray and I were in the final weeks of The King’s panto run that year and we were between a matinee and an evening performance. We had just finished a meeting with the Gilded Balloon’s Karen Koren and clinked glasses of Coca-cola (Andy and I had a show to do, mind!) and agreed a partnership which is now entering its fifth Fringe.
As someone who is Edinburgh born and bred, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been part of every year of my life. But up until that meeting, it had been just twofold; in my early years, it was part of my social life, dipping in and out as I chose, and then in the 1990s, when I worked at Radio Forth, it became part of my working life too.
For example, one year I was asked to take over the Drive Time show for the duration of the Fringe, live from one of the Underbelly’s cavernous venues just off the Grassmarket. As it was the Fringe, I had a co-host each week. Two of whom were Adam Hills and Alan Carr, both of whom have moved on from stand up comedy into careers as hugely successful broadcasters. I like to think I taught them all they know.
Another “before they were famous” encounter came some years previously in the early 90s. A guest had been arranged for my show and I was told he’d be good chat and “probably quite funny” as he “was one of the guys who did the voices on Spitting Image”. So the day came and about 20 minutes before he was due in the studio, I took a call from reception. “That’s someone called Steve Coogan on the phone for you?” This was my guest, due on air in the next ten minutes, so naturally I took the call. He told me he was “a bit tired” and “wasn’t able to make the interview” but “wanted to call personally to apologise”. At the time, I wasn’t impressed as I had lost a guest but in retrospect I always think it was a nice touch to call in one of his, now legendary, hangovers.
Jack Dee was another presentday legend who was a bit of a letdown. Not as big a let-down as Steve Coogan, because he actually turned up, but in so much that he refused, point blank, to give any tasters of his show on air as he didn’t want to spoil it for the audience. Fair enough, but given that I had prepared my whole interview on all the topics he was covering in his show, it’s safe to say that this probably wasn’t the most entertaining interview I had ever done.
So, fast forward to 2012 and Andy Gray and I have been working together in panto for years. By this time, as much as I loved (and still do love) playing the baddie, I was desperate to try my hand at some straight acting. But I was fully aware that Sir Kenneth Branagh wasn’t going to be knocking on my door anytime soon. Andy and I were discussing this one evening and he just came out with it and said: “I’ll do a play with you!”
And that was it. I phoned Karen to ask her advice about how to put a play on and the next thing I knew we were in Henricks clinking glasses.
Then in August 2013, I made my professional Fringe debut with Andy in the play Kiss Me Honey, Honey! I will never forget the fear I felt that first night, as long as I live. The lights went down and I knew that once I stepped out on that stage, I wasn’t getting off it until the show was finished.
We sold out the whole run that