Highland councillors this week refused to make a decision on a planning application submitted by SSE to dismantle a roadside wall surrounding a derelict listed building in Brora.

The move would effectively have paved the way for wind farm construction traffic to use the A9 through Golspie and Brora and then turn off on the area of the dismantled wall onto the single-track distillery road and from there to Strath Brora.

Instead councillors deferred a decision until their January meeting. And they signalled that this would give SSE plenty of time to get back to the negotiating table with landowners over the use of an alternative hill route via the existing Kilbraur wind farm and accessed just south of Golspie.

Residents in the two east Sutherland villages have been vociferous in their opposition to the use of the A9 through the villages by wind farm traffic, and have made it clear they want the power company to use the Kilbraur option.

Members of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Planning Applications and Review Committee considered the SSE application when they met in the Duthac Centre in Tain on Tuesday morning.

The power company wanted to take down part of the stone wall – and later rebuild it – surrounding the C-listed former Clyne School building, which it owns, on the northern outskirts of Brora. The removal of the wall would open up a large enough turning circle for heavy construction traffic carrying turbine parts to turn off the A9.

Planners received more than 100 objections to the proposal on the grounds that an alternative route was available.

Brora Community Council voted 7-1 against the application with members saying they were worried that the foundations of the property itself would be threatened by the lorries using the area as a turning circle. But planning officials recommended the application be approved, subject to conditions.

East Sutherland and Edderton councillor Deirdre Mackay is not a member of the planning committee but spoke at Tuesday's meeting. She said: "Along the A9 corridor there is real public anger over this issue and the proposals as they stand are simply not acceptable to the community. It seems nonsense, therefore, to proceed with this application when the alternative appears to be achievable, hopefully in the foreseeable future.

"Given both the strength of local feeling and the stated viability of the Kilbraur access, I feel it is entirely reasonable to let common sense prevail in this case. I seek to defer this application until the next committee meeting.

"This will give SSE time to reach an agreement which can allow the Kilbraur access to proceed and meet the express will of the local communities."

Councillor Mackay also took a swipe at SSE over the condition of the old school. "The old school is one of the oldest buildings in Brora, it's a formerly beautiful and imposing building in a prominent position on the outskirts of the village and it is the first building people see when travelling south," she said.

"It's now an absolute eyesore and over the years has been neglected and allowed to decay. There's been little effort by the owners to properly care for it.

"The planning appraisal notes that the applicants (SSE) have indicated that they intend to undertake various repair works, and it is flagged up that regardless of the outcome of this application the developer, as owner and custodian, has a duty of care and responsibility to maintain and keep it in good order.

"I believe SSE's proposals in relation to the school are insufficient and do not reflect what is actually required to properly look after this building. Minimal work proposals are not good enough and I would like more of an assurance that the old school building will receive full and proper attention in terms of useful and sensitive restoration."

Members of the planning committee backed Councillor Mackay and agreed to defer the application.

Councillor Ian Ross, Golspie, withdrew from the discussion over the application.

He told fellow councillors: "I am aware of suggestions from certain quarters that I have a conflict of interest in respect of this application.

"This would seem to be because I have promoted the Kilbraur access route to the Gordonbush wind farm.

"I do not consider there to be any such conflict of interest and I am of the clear view I was acting in the best interests of my constituents and, very importantly, after the Gordonbush wind farm application had already been determined by the Scottish Government under Section 36 of the appropriate Electricity Act.

"However, I am concerned over any perception of a conflict, and with great reluctance and regret have decided to withdraw from any involvement in the determination of this application.

"I have no desire to bring about even a suggestion of compromising the work of this committee or myself."

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