LETTER: Developer appeals to Court of Session over South Kilbraur Wind Farm rejection

I AGREE with Elinor Ross (letter to the Northern Times, May 27) that the Scottish Government must do more to protect rural communities from repeated planning applications by developers, writes Michael O'Reilly, Inchomney, Rogart.

In February this year, we were finally told, after more than three years of anxious waiting, that the Scottish Government’s Reporter had turned down Wind 2’s appeal for seven more wind turbines at Kilbraur, Rogart. We heaved a collective sigh of relief.

Unfortunately, last week, we heard that the Welsh company had submitted yet another appeal - this time to the Court of Session - and that, once again, we are under threat of a development that nobody wants.

Our community emphatically opposes South Kilbraur Wind Farm. When we surveyed them in 2020, 82 per cent of local people agreed or strongly agreed that South Kilbraur will result in encirclement by wind farms; 82 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that wind farms should not be near homes; and 80 per cent strongly agreed or agreed that South Kilbraur wind farm would be visually intrusive.

The Scottish Government Reporter agreed with the local community, thereby supporting similar views of a previous Reporter, in 2014.

So, despite knowing that the local community opposes more wind turbines, and despite knowing that two Reporters have rejected more wind farms in this district, Wind 2 demands the right to impose this development on us.

The Scottish Government must recognise that the current system is obscenely skewed in favour of the developers. Developers have two rights of appeal if a decision goes against them. Communities have none.

With their unlimited resources, developers can afford teams of QCs, armies of professional experts, and own “independent” environmental consultancies. Communities have nothing.

If Wind 2 succeeds with their second appeal, developers will declare open season on the Highlands and every project, no matter how grotesque, will be back on the table. And Sutherland will be turned, very rapidly, into an industrial wasteland.

Michael O’Reilly leads the K2 Action Group.

Letters should be sent to: editor@northern-times.co.uk

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