By Dave Lord

DESPITE YEARS of controversy and promises the Scottish Executive is not going to publish national guidance for the suitable sites of wind farms until the summer at the earliest, The Courier can exclusively reveal.

Campaign groups, opposition politicians and local authorities have all been crying out for a national strategic policy as numerous developers join the rush for lucrative sustainable energy provision.

Guidance had been promised this summer as authorities—including Perth and Kinross, where plans to create one of the biggest on-shore wind farms in the UK are set to be discussed next week—continue to feel under siege.

However, in a letter to a parliamentary colleague, the deputy minister for environment and rural development Rhona Brankin MSP confesses that “final guidance” will not be in place until at least summer 2006. She even adds that the Government only “hopes” to have completed its review by then.

North Tayside MSP John Swinney insists the development proves the Executive has failed to grasp the “seriousness and urgency” of the situation.

He is among those concerned over the onus being put on local authorities, claiming they are not in a position to properly deal with the burden of often substantial local opposition.

Governmental guidance would, Mr Swinney believes, at least give councils something concrete to go on.

As long ago as early 2003 opposition politicians lodged a motion calling on the Executive to bring forward planning guidelines as a matter of urgency. Two years on and it would appear frustratingly little progress has been made.

“The Scottish Executive must make dramatic progress in publishing new planning guidance for wind farms in Scotland,” Mr Swinney said.

“The letter from Rhona Brankin demonstrates the Executive understands neither the seriousness of the situation nor the urgency for new advice.

“I have been pressing for new planning guidance, and the Executive had promised this would be available by summer 2005.

“Now the minister says we will have to wait for another year.”

Mr Swinney said the lack of guidance could well lead to totally inappropriate developments being approved and was effectively a “betrayal” of local communities.

“It is likely several wind farm applications will be considered long before this Scottish Executive gets round to doing anything about it,” he said.

“Communities which need protection by a sensible and considered planning system will be left to their own devices without an appropriate national planning framework.

“I have been warning the Executive that their inaction will create major problems for communities in Scotland. Their approach to this problem is obviously to lock the stable door once the horse has bolted. That is a betrayal of the communities of Scotland.”

*Perth and Kinross councillors will discuss plans for a 68-turbine wind farm at Griffin Forest, near Dunkeld next week. Campaign groups have reacted with fury as it was revealed planning officials are to urge elected members not to oppose the plans.

*See comment on Page 10.