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Deluge of windfarms causes storm of protest
Credit: By Richard Burdge, 16 January 2013 | www.thecourier.co.uk ~~
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The massive increase in windfarm applications across Scotland has sparked a furious public backlash.
Nearly 10,000 people across Scotland have objected directly to the Scottish Government about major windfarm applications in the last five years.
Figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives show the SNP received 9,868 protests about developments over 50 megawatts, which are deemed too large for local authorities to pass judgment on.
The figures emerged following a parliamentary question posed by Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser.
A critic of the Scottish Government’s policy on turbine projects, Mr Fraser pointed out these will be only a fraction of the overall objections to windfarms, as Scotland’s local authorities deal with most of the cases.
Since 2008, only 4,051 letters of support were received about the major windfarm applications.
The Scottish Conservatives revealed in November the SNP gave the green light to 83% of the windfarm bids it received and applications were being made at a rate of five a day since 2007.
Mr Fraser, convener of the Scottish Parliament’s energy committee, said: “Given the sheer number of objections received, the SNP should be left in no doubt about how Scotland’s communities feel about windfarms.
“And this is the thin end of the wedge, because these are people who have been so irked by the threat of looming wind turbines, they have taken the time to formally contact the Scottish Government to protest.
“This figure does not include the thousands more who find turbines unsightly and unnecessary.
“What is more galling is, despite receiving 10,000 objections, many of these windfarms were waved through anyway.
“The SNP’s wind energy obsession has to be curbed, otherwise every vista in Scotland will be at risk from an invasion of great, white turbines.
“That will have a negative impact on tourism and the everyday enjoyment rural communities get from their surroundings.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson responded saying: “Scotland has open, inclusive and transparent planning processes which give the right protection to our magnificent landscapes and which takes the views of local communities into account.
“Windfarms and other forms of clean green energy enhance energy security and create opportunities for communities across Scotland to secure new jobs and investment.”
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