Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has expressed displeasure at the level of interference from Scottish Government planners in the wind farm planning process.
Revelations have shown that centrally based planners have pressured local authorities into creating more favourable conditions for wind turbine developers.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“The SNP has been attempting to bully councils for some time now in a bid to force them to dance to the windfarm tune.
“Councils know better, and don’t want turbines spread across the whole landscape at the expense of scenery and wildlife.
“Unfortunately, Alex Salmond doesn’t like this, and wants to strong-arm them into accepting even the most unreasonable of planning applications.
“This has to stop – it’s a disgraceful abuse of power, and goes against what communities across Scotland want.
“Rural parts of Perthshire, Fife and Stirling are already buckling under the strain of speculative windfarm bids.
“The last thing these areas need is a Scottish Government applying even more pressure from the safety of Edinburgh.”