Law lord loses windfarm fight
27 Sep 06
Inquiry reporter unmoved by local objections and arguments of risk to bird life
Lord Hope of Craighead has lost his battle to stop a windfarm being built next to his Perthshire holiday home.
One of the Scottish appeal judges in the House of Lords and a respected ornithologist, Lord Hope had claimed that the £30 million development proposed by Scottish and Southern Energy would be a threat to rare and protected ospreys, as his years of observing the birds led him to conclude that the windfarm would be directly in their flightpath.
The proposals were also strenuously opposed by the local community, at Drumderg near Bridge of Cally. Their objections were supported by Perth and Kinross Council which twice refused permission for the development.
However, a Scottish Executive inquiry reporter has overridden the objections and yesterday allowed the 16 turbine development to go ahead. Scientists employed by Scottish and Southern say the windfarm will not be a threat.
In his decision the reporter, Malcolm Malony, said he was satisfied that the risk of an osprey collision was low and not such as to justify refusing the proposal.
The council is now considering its position. The developer wants it to pay the costs of the public inquiry.
A local campaign group who fought against the proposals are also facing a £100,000 bill, including fees for the QC they used, John Campbell.
Murdo Fraser, Mid-Scotland and Fife Tory MSP, said the Scottish Executive's overturning of an application rejected at the local level by Perth and Kinross Council was the reason why he believed new guidelines and procedures relating to the siting of windfarms were urgently needed.
Ian Marchant's Scottish and Southern's chief executive, said the company's priority was now to ensure the construction work at Drumderg was carried out professionally in a way that reflected the concerns of local people.
Building work is scheduled to start later this year.