Councillor Richard Gale ‘very disappointed’ over last-ditch Acheilidh Wind Farm vote
An East Sutherland councillor has failed in his last-ditch attempt to persuade his fellow councillors to object to a controversial wind farm application in the area.
Cllr Richard Gale said this week he was “very disappointed” that Highland Council had voted last Thursday to raise no objection to Acheilidh Wind Farm, which is to be built on open moorland 8km west of Rogart.
This is the third time that councillors have considered the application by Energiekontor for the 12-turbine, 79.2MW Acheilidh Wind Farm, which it is feared will have a huge visual impact.
Initially, members of the North Planning Applications Committee (NPAC) agreed to follow the recommendation of planning officers and object to the development at their meeting in October.
This would have triggered a public inquiry, as the final determination of the Energiekontor application lies with the Energy Consents Unit because it is above the 50MW threshold.
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However, the Acheilidh planning application was brought before the committee again last month, at which point planners recommended that councillors reconsider their decision and raise no objection.
This was in light of the go-ahead given to the Garvary Wind Farm, with planners saying that it “significantly diminished” the magnitude of change that Acheilidh would bring.
At the May meeting, the committee was deadlocked 5:5 on the issue, forcing chairman Drew Miller, who represents the Isle of Skye, to use his casting vote in favour of no objection.
Cllr Gale was determined not to let the matter rest there, so he submitted a notice of amendment to bring the application before the full Highland Council for a fresh debate.
He succeeded in getting the required level of support for his notice, and the wind farm was discussed again at a full council meeting on Thursday.
However, councillors voted 24:18 in favour of raising no objection - there are 74 councillors, so 32 did not vote.
Cllr Gale said: “I did my best; I pushed it as hard as I possibly could. Ultimately, the vote was along party lines. That was what blew it out of the water.”
The council is led by a joint administration of the Scottish National Party and the Highland Independent Group. The SNP is striving for net-zero emissions by 2045.
Cllr Gale continued: “It was a free vote, and a couple from the administration voted with us and spoke well about it, which was good. But there is no will on the part of the administration to listen to the community. I was very disappointed.”
He added: “I was patronisingly accused of letting my heart rule my head. The hearts of the communities concerned are very fixed on the fact they are being encircled by wind farms in their area. I think they should have had the opportunity to have their say at a public enquiry, but unfortunately that is not to be.
“We did our best, we pulled it back in and we made a strong case, I think.”
Of the 12 turbines proposed, six will be up to 230m high and six up to 200m high.
