How many people realise what the government is up to with its energy policy, asks Christopher Booker.

Lots of new articles to read on our links page

Interesting article in yesterday's Independent re wildlife sites being ruined by development.
The final paragraph is a quote from Sir David Attenborough and reads:

"Scotland contains some of the finest landscapes and wildlife spectacles found around the British Isles, but today it is in need of our help more than ever. From the wonders of the Cairngorms, to the Hebridean beaches and flower filled machair meadows, we must invest and take care in how we steward these stunning places if they are to survive."

Eneco who plan 18 industrial turbines on Macritch Hill (Backwater Reservoir) intend to submit an application to the Scottish Government on 9th January 2015. As the development is over 50MW the application is submitted directly to the Energy Consents and Deployment Unit (ECDU).


All representations can be made directly to the ECDU and we will keep you informed once the application is made.

The giant industrial turbines proposed for Saddlehill would have a huge negative effect on the fabulous views from Forter Castle. Home of the Pooley family and surrounded by Glenisla's stunning scenery, Forter Castle was originally built in 1560 and enjoys a history as rich as the countryside in which it sits. Destroyed by the Duke of Argyll in 1640, it has been completely restored using traditional materials.

Forter Castle represents a tiny portion of the tourist industry and visitor beds which would be affected by the Saddlehill development. Glenisla has all sorts of tourist accommodation - we have counted nearly 900 beds - and we fear that this whole sector of employment would be irretrievably damaged should these giant turbines be permitted.

Click here to see a recent feature on the castle's stunning interiors and click here to see some spectacular shots of the landscape in which this ancient castle sits. 

If you are new to objecting to a planning application, don't worry, it really isn't too difficult and the important thing to remember is that every objection counts!

Follow the links in previous posts or on our How can I help page. "But", we hear you say, "What do I write?"

You need to give your name and address and you must quote the planning reference number
14/00947/EIAM for Angus, 14/01993/FLM for Perth and Kinross

It would be a good idea to start with a little bit of background... I have lived here for 20 years, I am a frequent visitor to the area, my family has been holidaying in Glenisla for many years etc

Then, say what it is you object to about the proposed development (again, see the How can I help page for ideas). Unfortunately, saying "I don't like them" is not deemed to be a legitimate point in the eyes of the planners!

If you would like more specific help then do get in touch, our email address is glenisla.against.turbines@hotmail.com 

Please object to BOTH Angus Council and Perth and Kinross Council. Yes, it takes a little longer, but your efforts will hopefully be worthwhile.

Angus Council:
1) object online, click HERE to make your comments
or 
2)send an email to planning@angus.gov.uk 
or 
3)post to Angus Council Planning Department, County Buildings, Market Street, Forfar, DD8 3LG


Make sure you give your name, address and the planning reference number 14/00947/EIAM


Perth and Kinross Council
1) send an email to developmentmanagement@pkc.gov.uk
or
2) post to Development Management, Perth and Kinross Council, Pullar House, Kinnoull Street, Perth PH1 5GD
or 
3) object online, click HERE to create an account and make a comment (yes, an extra hurdle but you can do it!)

We are trying to make it as easy as possible for as many people as possible to access the information they need to object to the development of 14 x 115m industrial turbines on Saddlehill / Black Hill, Kilry. As the site straddles both Perth and Kinross (6 turbines) and Angus (8 turbines) there are two council websites to negotiate.

To date, the Angus Council website has been suffering some fairly major IT problems and has been unavailable on and off for the last 10 days  - and crucially, over the weekend when people would potentially have had time to read through the documentation. At Perth and Kinross we have been waiting for the planning application to go live only to find that we had been given a incorrect reference number. 

Another little anomaly is that whilst it is possible to write an objection directly on the comments page at Angus Council's website, for Perth and Kinross Council, if you wish to make an online submission you are required to create an account and sign in.

Hopefully the confusion is now over... both web pages can be reached directly through the following links and our motto for the day is definitely something about perseverance! 

Angus Council planning application

Perth and Kinross Council planning application

The planning application for Saddlehill is now live on Perth and Kinross Council's website. Please note there is a change to the planning reference number which is 14/01993/FLM


Click HERE to access the site. (unlike Angus Council where you can just type in a comment, Perth and Kinross Council's site requires that you open an account before you can login and make an online comment)


You can of course simply email your objection to developmentmanagement@pkc.gov.uk

Just to confirm, the Saddlehill / Black Hill application has been submitted to BOTH Angus Council and Perth and Kinross Council as the site straddles the boundary with turbines in each county.

It is therefore important that you object to BOTH councils - see previous posts for more details (planning reference numbers etc)

To make matters just a little bit more complicated.. the Perth and Kinross Council webpage for the application is not quite up and running yet although the Council IS accepting comments either by post or email - and you will get an acknowledgement.

Angus Council has been experiencing IT difficulties and therefore its webpage has been unobtainable on and off for the last week.

The message is DO PLEASE BE PERSISTENT!