Cost of fighting Perth and Kinross wind farm plans 'now near £1m'
The cost of fighting the spread of wind farms in Perth and Kinross is approaching £1 million, The Courier can reveal.
- By Mark Mackay
- Published in the Courier : 03.09.10
- Published online : 03.09.10 @ 08.14am
In all 13 wind farms have so far been proposed and then rejected by the council, which believes they could significantly damage the area's renowned landscape.
That opposition has had little support from the Scottish Government, however, and ministers have decided against local feeling in five cases after appeals by "green power" developers.
Figures obtained by The Courier under Freedom of Information legislation show the local authority and taxpayer have so far been hit with a massive £836,097 bill for daring to oppose the unwanted schemes.
That sum is set to increase significantly, with costs awarded to developer I&H Brown in light of its successful appeal against the local authority's rejection of plans for a wind farm at Calliacher, near Amulree, in July.
Perth and Kinross Council has said it will continue to take a view on individual wind farms based on their "planning merits" and will not be swayed by the costs that could be incurred.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser, however, believes local authorities should not be faced with such costs, describing them as "unfair" and the Scottish Government's appeal judgments as "unforgivable."
He believes the schemes are in danger of destroying Scotland's landscape — a view shared by the residents of Perthshire communities who have said they feel "under siege" from wind farm development.
In light of so many successful appeals, residents also say they feel powerless to stop development, such is the will of the Scottish Government to boost its green power credentials.
The 68-turbine Griffin wind farm development near Aberfeldy for example, the third largest in Scotland, won consent from Scottish ministers in January 2008 despite having been rejected by councillors.
Energy minister Jim Mather illustrated the local feeling of helplessness when he said, "The decision to approve Griffin wind farm is an important milestone in the government's energy strategy for Scotland."
Perth and Kinross Council has repeatedly tried to block the proliferation of wind farms, which it believes damage the area's often stunning and valuable landscape — tourism is vital to the local economy.
Time and again, Scottish ministers have overruled the council's stance, with successful appeals and the opinion of reporters that the wind farm sites are not special enough to be protected.
First permission was for the 18-turbine Greenknowes wind farm near Auchterarder in mid-2006. Work began in May 2007, the first 95 metre turbine completed in May 2008.
As work began on Greenknowes, ministers allowed two further sites, Lochelbank (12 turbines) in August 2007 and Drumderg (16) a month later.
There was some good news for campaigners, with proposals for others at Mellock Hill, near Crook of Devon (14 turbines), Little Law at Auchterarder (14) and Snowgoat Glen (10) all thrown out.
High price
However, a freedom of information request reveals this success came at a high price to the local authority, with the total cost of fighting the multiple appeals for the latter three and Lochelbank amounting to £271,476.
Then 2008 finally brought a decision on the giant Griffin application and again the wishes of the council and community were defeated.
Finally, ministers decided in favour of developer I&H Brown in July this year and granted permission to the 14-turbine scheme at Calliacher, near Amulree.
The news was a bitter blow for local campaigners who fear the cumulative impact on their community from the wind farm, the Griffin site and the proposed Beauly-to-Denny power line, which could also cut through the landscape.
The disappointment following the appeal judgments, which all followed lengthy public inquiries, has been exacerbated by the threat of costs. To date, just one claim has been received, for Drumderg, with the council forced to pay £185,244 to the applicant after their successful appeal.
The financial blow to the council and taxpayers following the Calliacher decision, and the award of costs in that case, is not likely to be known for sometime, but it could be substantial.
08.37am - 03.09.2010 Savescotland - Dundee, Uk Report This
Appalling. They are ugly and hopelessly inefficient. Why on earth are we placing these structures in glorious countryside? The answer is of course money for the developers, green 'consultants' and of course the landowners who benefit hugely from the lucrative feed in tarriff to the grid. Horrid.
11.37pm - 03.09.2010 McDonagh - Coldstream, Scotland Report This
What price democracy?<br /> It isn't working in Scotland.
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