The Scottish government has pledged £300,000 for local authorities striving to meet a rise in demands for wind turbines.

The increase in applications for wind turbines has seen Holyrood offer the funds for planning authorities, after Aberdeenshire and Fife Councils requested a temporary halt to new applications due to an overwhelming demand.

Ministers had indicated in June that funding would be made available in time.

Planning Minister Derek Mackay said: "We know that some planning authorities are experiencing particularly high volumes of applications for wind turbines, and the funding will help by bringing in expertise, or more staff, to deal with the process.

-- Advertisement --

"I have made clear that I do not think a moratorium on applications is appropriate but would cause undue delay and uncertainty for everyone involved.

"But I do recognise that some planning authorities are currently facing a high volume and this funding will help them deal with this", he said.

£280,000 of the fund is due to will go directly to the authorities, while £20,000 will be used by Holyrood gauge how the money has been spent, in order to plan appropriately for the future.

But some are doubtful over the significance of this gesture from the Scottish government.

Linda Holt, from Communities Against Turbines Scotland, told BBC Scotland: "This is not new news, it came out in June and has been spun differently.

"It is not new money and it is not even a drop in the ocean. It will make absolutely no difference.

"Local authorities are struggling and what the government is doing is cutting them out. It is meaningless."

(IT)