A number of conservation groups have written an open letter to the Scottish Government highlighting their concerns over how planning applications for major wind farm developments are assessed.

The letter, which has been signed by leaders from the National Trust for Scotland, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, Ramblers Scotland and the Scottish Wild Land Group, has accused ministers of ignoring their own advisers in favour of supporting controversial large-scale developments.

The groups' concerns focus on two developments in particular – inland at Stronelairg in the Monadhliath Mountains, and offshore, straddling the Firths of the Forth and Tay – where they claim the Scottish Government has been "perceived to disregard the submissions made by its own advisors and statutory consultees, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)".

-- Advertisement --

It added that the government should "take proper cognisance of their own advisors where serious ecological issues are raised", and ensure such evidence is "transparently scrutinised and assessed", through Public Local Inquiries, for example.

The letter reads: "Few people dispute the necessity of first reducing our energy use, and then substituting the use of fossil fuels with renewable energy alternatives, to help address the challenge of climate change.

"However, as we have seen, there is public disquiet about proliferation of energy developments in Scotland's wild land areas.

"It is vital that any decisions on the location of these developments rely on the fair and impartial assessment of all pertinent information and points of view.

"The people of Scotland depend on their Government to ensure this happens. Unfortunately, we do not believe that the Scottish Government is doing this in a consistent manner with wind farm developments."

The leaders continued: "We therefore call on the Scottish Government to commit to taking cognisance of its own advisors.

"Rather than force objectors to challenge these decisions in the courts at great expense, the Scottish Government should first ensure they have been exposed to the proper and democratic scrutiny that their scale and potential impact warrants."

(JP/CD)