Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie has pledged to highlight the concerns of constituents who oppose plans to build two giant wind turbines in the city’s port.
At a busy Craigiebank Church Hall, Residents Against Tay Turbines (RATT) held their first meeting as they set out a strategy to resist the proposals.
Those attending were urged to “pester your local councillor, pester your MSP…pester your MP” and much was made of the issue being a potential vote-winner in the constituency come the general election on May 6.
SNP representative Mr Hosie won the Dundee East seat by just 383 votes last time round and last night he gave his backing to the port being a centre for renewable energy, but promised not to let residents’ voices fall on deaf ears.
He said, “I am very keen to see the Stannergate developed as a centre for renewable technology.
“However, I am very well aware the proposals for two turbines are causing some anxiety.
“The first thing I need to do is ascertain if the wind turbines are essential to the development of the Stannergate site.
“What I also have to do is reflect the legitimate concerns of residents.”
During the meeting, RATT representative Brian Duncan had earlier told the assembled crowd of around 70 people that politicians “are elected to represent our views, our concerns.”
He added, “They don’t care until polling day and they are trying to win your votes.”
Mr Duncan also said it would take “thousands, not hundreds” of dissenting voices to have any chance of stopping the planned structures.
“Unless we mobilise in very large numbers, probably larger than have ever been seen in this area, this will go ahead because there is nothing to stop it,” he added.
The meeting was told that Forth Energy plan to submit an application for two 400-feet structures roughly the same size as those at Michelin, later this month — not in early summer as had been previously expected.
RATT members urged those attending the event to find more people to support the campaign by canvassing the area and handing out leaflets.
The group will launch a website today, www.ratts.org.uk, which will soon have letters of opposition and petitions available for download so they can be completed and given to the city council once the plans have been submitted.
Gordon McQuillan, who set up the website, urged attendees to log on and create a groundswell of opposition that will be impossible to ignore.
“Give it a bit of oomph and get something done because if we don’t, they (Forth Energy) are going to walk all over us,” he said.