Chamber and committees

Ian Miller submission of 7 June 2021

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

Personally, I find the planning system both incomprehensible and unjust. I have recently had to pay a substantial amount of my own money to seek professional help in responding to a wind farm application and its appeals. As a poor pensioner this has left me in a financially difficult situation.

To oppose this wind farm application which contravened the Local Area Plan and the Wind-farm Capacity study already agreed between the Local Planning Officer and the Scottish Government, I had to gather a 100+ petition from residents affected.

In spite of the application being rejected firstly by the planning officer for the above-mentioned reasons, a further local review body rejection, the rejection was then appealed, and regardless of local feeling and the petitioners whose houses were well within the 2Km zone, the application was ultimately consented.

I felt as though I and the residents whose houses were to be overlooked had been abused by a system, which permits appeal after appeal until the developer simply gets the answer he seeks.

I had insufficient support from the planning system.

Had we the same rights as those in England this would not have happened.

I have to ask myself if this is the kind country in which to spend my remaining years?