'Stand firm' plea to councillors over Sutherland wind farm
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Councillors have been urged to “stand firm” on a controversial wind farm plan, after the developer blasted the local authority’s objection as “clearly inconsistent”.
Highland Council’s North Area Planning Committee is expected to debate whether or not to maintain its objection to the Strath Oykel plan, which will see turbines of 200 metres being built near the village of Rosehall.
That would equal the current record tallest wind farm in Scotland.
The bid is being considered by the Scottish Government, but Highland Council’s role in the process is crucial, as its objection means a public inquiry will be forced on the move.
However, EnergieKontor – the German firm behind the scheme – want councillors to reconsider their objection in order to help have the application approved.
It has submitted fresh documents to Scottish Government ministers putting pressure on them to grant consent.
They say they “respectfully request that the council and Scottish ministers consider the particular merits of this scheme against a soon to be revised development plan and clearly altered material considerations”.
They acknowledge the councillors’ objection to the application was based on “visual concerns” and “perceived cumulative impacts”.
But they add: “The applicant would maintain that the current council objection is clearly inconsistent with the development plan.”
However, local campaign group No Ring of Steel (NORoS) said councillors had to stick to their guns.
They argue that it is wrong for the council and developers to enter into negotiations about the plan after the objection has been lodged, and that only a public inquiry can provide full scrutiny to the application.
EnergieKontor wants to “avoid” a public inquiry, claiming it would be “long and expensive”.
Ashley Smith, spokesman for No Ring of Steel, said: “It’s vital that our councillors, who objected to this development originally, stand firm now that the heat is on.
“It’s clear the developer is trying its utmost to change the minds of those who are standing in the way of what will be a lucrative development. But whatever plans the company points to, the main issues with this wind farm remain.
“We believe it will devastate our economy and ruin the everyday quality of life for this part of the world.
“We were encouraged by the councillors’ refusal to be persuaded by this controversial application before, and we need them to be equally thorough and representative of the local community this time around too.”
