Murdo Fraser MSP has backed a call from the Heads of Planning Scotland (HoPS) who are appealing for the Scottish Government to specify Scotland’s future “turbine requirements.”
The proposal would effectively act as a limit on the total number of turbines amid widespread concern about their rapid spread across Scotland’s countryside.
This would help local planning authorities decide whether applications for wind farms are “reasonable” taking into account how many more are needed to meet Scotland’s energy needs.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“This is a welcome intervention from the Heads of Planning Scotland who have joined a growing chorus of Scots concerned at the spread of wind turbines in unsuitable areas.
The public are becoming increasingly sceptical as to the merits of wind energy and public opposition to turbine planning applications is growing rapidly.
“Recent assurances from the Scottish Government aimed at protecting wild land from turbine developments have proven to be deficient. Officials from Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park have cited concerns at the lack of protection for land on the periphery of the park, which is ripe for development.
“With no cap set on the number of turbines needed to meet 2020 targets, there is growing alarm that the industrialisation of our countryside will only stop when Scotland’s hills have reached saturation point. The Scottish Government must listen and act on the calls from the Heads of Planning Scotland.”