Chamber and committees

Marion Milliner submission of 3 August 2021

PE1864/OOOO - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms

I am a resident of Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway, and wish to support this petition for the following reasons:

Scotland to adopt the English planning legislation process for the determination of onshore wind farm developments

Wind farms are increasing in turbine height and number, and are being proposed for areas not considered suitable for wind farm developments within the scope of current local development plans. However, developers seem to ignore these limitations. For example a local project Stop Sanquhar II will be representing the views of 6 Community Councils which have objected to Sanquhar II windfarm in an upcoming Public Inquiry.

I believe that the adoption of planning legislation such as that in England where there is strict adherence to local development plans which have previously been the subject of public consultation, would direct developers to suitable sites where there is less likelihood of objection from local planning authorities and communities. The current Scottish legislation process is leading to stress for communities, expense for developers and extended timescales for all parties.

Additionally, our communities have found that we are fighting multiple planning applications at the same time. Increasingly wind farm developers appear to be placing a burden of communication, such as community consultations, public meetings, fielding questions, dealing with specific issues on homes and businesses, on already over-stretched community councils. At the moment we are actively opposing:

• Sanquhar II windfarm

• Euchanhead windfarm is currently with the Scottish Government, and;

• Lorg windfarm will shortly be submitted to the Scottish Government for scoping.

These wind farms together will form one continuous super-wind farm in an area of stunning natural beauty, extensive social and cultural heritage, and enormous biodiversity.

We need adequate and relevant professional help to engage in the planning system.

Our communities (and Community Councils) are currently objecting to Sanquhar II windfarm with little or no experience of the process. Communities and Community Councils do not have the financial resources that wind farm developers have, or the access to the multiplicity of experts required to investigate all the issues raised. Communities’ knowledge of the legal system is minimal/non-existent. The plethora of complex and technical documents that lay-people need to understand in order to fully participate in the process is overwhelming and time consuming.

Issues with rural broadband limitations, particularly during the recent restrictions imposed in the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in us having even greater constraints on getting our message into the public domain, researching the scientific data, policies and developments that would help our objectives.

Euchanhead wind farm was submitted for planning consent to the Scottish Government during the Covid lockdown, making effective communication incredibly difficult. One of its public consultations was held on-line, effectively disenfranchising people with poor/no broadband. This situation should not be allowed to continue.

There is limited time and financial resources to effectively consider and respond to all of these applications. Fund raising is difficult, with no idea of the financial costs of each application, Public Inquiries, and possible appeals. In stark contrast, each wind farm application is supported and resourced by separate developers with their own teams of experts and, seemingly limitless, funding.

Before a single turbine has been built, the Glens of our communities have been cleared of residents and I believe this is a direct consequence of Sanquhar II. I feel that there has been a loss of homes, businesses, and a part of the lifeblood of our community as a result. In my view, further clearances of our rural populations will continue as a direct consequence of wind farms. Private water supply impacts, shadow flicker, noise, loss of visual amenity, destruction of ecosystems, and destruction of residents’ plans and dreams for the future could be avoided if communities were better able to contribute to, and have that contribution valued and considered in, the planning process.

Our communities are facing David and Goliath battles of epic proportions.

We need an independent advocate to ensure local participants are not bullied and intimidated during public inquiries.

A number of people, who would be impacted by wind farms, have been unwilling to come forward because of stories of bullying and intimidation at Public Inquiries. As a result, I believe that the full impacts of wind farms on communities, individuals and/or our environment may not be adequately represented by people who know the area intimately.

Communities and Community Councils understand that the urgent need for alternatives to fossil fuels is unequivocal. However, the current generation of proposed wind turbines cast long shadows over our towns/communities. I believe the time, money and energy taken up by opposing unsuitable developments, could be far better used in developing sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels that would better preserve our communities, our rural populations, our biodiversity and heritage, providing long term sustainable local jobs.