Following the news that the Dunbar Community Energy Company has appealed against East Lothian Council’s decision to refuse permission for their wind turbine on Blackcastle Hill, Dunbar councillor Michael Veitch has written to the Directorate for Planning Appeals making the case for why the Council’s decision should not be over-turned. Cllr Veitch wrote:
“I write to record my very strong objection to the application. My reasons for doing so are straightforward:
- The application was opposed by East Lammermuir Community Council in whose area Blackcastle Hill lies. It is my understanding that local residents were surveyed which showed that a majority of local people who responded were against the development.
- The application was rejected by a unanimous vote of East Lothian Council’s Planning Committee on 7th May 2013 (14 votes for refusal, 0 against)
- The application site lies within the Lammermuir Hills Area of Great Landscape Value and is very close to the Oldhamstocks Conservation Area. The turbine would be in an elevated and highly visible position.
- The development is contrary to East Lothian Council’s Supplementary Landscape Capacity Study for Smaller Wind Turbines (December 2011).
“Aside from the strongly expressed opposition to this application at both a community council and Local Authority level, I am concerned that authorising this development would set a dangerous precedent and encourage other developers to bring forward wind turbine applications which are contrary to the Council’s Planning Guidance and Capacity Study. I very much hope that you will take these objections and others into consideration when making your decision.”