The company behind the biggest windfarm ever planned for Angus has accused the local authority of affecting a “moratorium” on commercial schemes.
Eurowind said neighbouring councils could be forced into accepting greater turbine numbers because of Angus planning policies after councillors voted overwhelmingly to submit a formal objection to the £80 million Nathro scheme in Glen Lethnot.
Scottish ministers will determine the fate of the 17-turbine proposal, which would generate more than 60 megawatts and almost 40 jobs.
Council leader Iain Gaul said the council could leave itself open to legal challenge by ignoring advice based on well-established policy and development plans.
But council officers were criticised for producing what a Eurowind representative labelled a “defective” report, and Councillor Bob Myles led a failed attempt to deliver support for the scheme on the basis of the boost it could bring to the area including a claimed £1 million per annum community payout.
At a meeting of the full council in Forfar, Eurowind representative Simon Munro said: “I believe that the £80m Nathro project may be the most significant development that’s come before you and socio-economic is an important consideration.
“There could be 39 full-time jobs, yet this merits a single line in the report.
“The resolution to object is on no other grounds than landscape and visual impacts, which are always subjective.
“Nathro would be more productive than other Angus windfarms and that could be something for Angus to be proud of.
“The key qualities of Angus will be unaffected by this development,” Mr Munro said.
Eurowind also received backing from retired Squadron Leader Gus Leighton, who would be one of the closest residents to the windfarm.
“The objectors are not as numerous as they appear and a good number of local residents support the windfarm,” Mr Munro added.
Councillor Myles, whose motion not to lodge an objection with the Scottish Government was defeated by 22 votes to three, said: “We have a fragile rural economy, budgets are being cut and this is a way to bring help that those rural economies may otherwise not get. Nathro would be a very small visual impact.”
Fellow Brechin councillor Mairi Evans said: “When it comes to developments on this scale, there is no pleasing everybody.
“I’m not against renewable energy, but it needs to be at the right scale and in the right place and I think we have to support the policies we have in place because they are there for a reason.”
Angus administration leader Iain Gaul said: “We are acting as statutory consultees, putting forward officer recommendations based on Angus Council development plans and Tayplan.
“If we don’t support our policies, how can we justify making decisions in the future when we are the decision-making body.
“I can’t for the life of me see why we would not want to object to this application.
“It’s a box-ticking exercise that reinforces our policies, which have not been made on the hoof.
“We do not make policies like Tayplan lightly, and we should not throw them away lightly,” Mr Gaul said.
Reacting to the council decision, Eurowind director Ian Lindsay said: “Ultimately, it will be the Scottish Government’s call as to whether Nathro Hill is approved or not, but we are disappointed Angus Council have drawn up a policy that is in effect a moratorium on commercial wind development.
“If unchecked, this will simply put pressure on neighbouring councils to accept even higher numbers of turbines.
“Nathro Hill is a perfect location for a windfarm with substantial local and Angus-wide support, a massive wind resource and a location away from iconic hill walking areas.
“It would also bring a multi-millionpound financial legacy for surrounding communities that could secure their economic future for decades and address many issues like fuel poverty that are very relevant to ordinary folk in the glens, but this economic benefit was not considered relevant by council.”