Speaking during today’s East Lothian Council Cabinet debate on planning guidance for larger wind turbines, Cllr Michael Veitch (Dunbar & East Linton) said:
“The Administration’s Council Plan contains a commitment to ensure the stricter regulation of wind turbines. Our natural landscape, including the wild beauty of the Lammermuir Hills, is undoubtedly our county’s greatest asset, and we must be wise custodians of it. I know that there are many people in our county who are deeply unhappy about the avalanche of large wind turbines which have appeared on the slopes of the Lammermuirs in recent times.
“In March this year, Cabinet approved draft guidance for consultation, which classified almost the whole of East Lothian as an ‘Area of Significant Protection’. I’m told that I may have erroneously referred to this at the time as a ‘blanket ban’ on larger wind turbines, so it is perhaps more accurate to say that it proposed a presumption against over 12mw wind development in these areas. I believe this was the correct approach to take and I regret that the paper before us today slightly dilutes this by creating areas of ‘Areas of Potential Constraint’ around the edges of the existing wind farms.
“The paper makes clear that this was triggered by the Scottish Government’s own natural environment body, Scottish Natural Heritage, who: “considered there may be some remaining capacity for carefully designed wind farms, or more likely wind farm extensions, particularly in the immediate vicinity of existing schemes.” I also note the Council’s response where it states that: “Having SNH’s unqualified support for the terms of this guidance would greatly assist its robustness, particularly in an appeal situation.”
“While I’m disappointed that we are accommodating these recommendations, I also understand the importance of making sure that our guidance is as robust as it can be. I also welcome the fact that identifying these ‘Areas of Potential Constraint’ around the edges of the existing wind farms – and I quote – “does not imply that these limited areas are suitable for wind farm development. Any wind farm development here would need to satisfy local plan policy and other material considerations.”
“Despite these alterations, this Planning Guidance, if approved, would support a presumption against any larger wind farm developments across the vast majority of East Lothian, including in most of the Lammermuirs. And crucially, it does not commit us to supporting turbines around the edge of existing wind farms.
“I hope that this paper will send a very strong signal to the Scottish Government. I hope it reminds them that with a nuclear power station, until recently a coal fired station, and two large existing wind farms, that East Lothian already punches way above its weight in terms of its contribution to Scotland’s energy needs. I hope it makes clear to them that we greatly treasure our world class natural environment, the vast bulk of which we consider to require significant protection. I hope they recognise that following representation from SNH, that we have adjusted our guidance in a way in which we trust they can support.
“So, in conclusion, I would hope that the Scottish Government would respect this guidance and seek to abide by it when considering all future applications for larger wind farms in the East Lothian countryside.”