Former Angus councillors have emerged as spokesmen for ”a silent majority” in defence of plans to build turbines on the South Esk.
Terry Wood (80), a resident of St Mary’s Road, Montrose, contacted The Courier to speak about the public discussion held in Montrose Academy, involving GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and residents.
The pharmaceuticals firm has formally lodged a proposal for a pair of 400ft turbines on the south side of its town site under its carbon reduction strategy, and was invited by Montrose Community Council to give presentations on this and then take part in a question and answer session on Wednesday evening.
The public forum was well-mannered but Mr Wood believes there were more supporters present who could have been more vocal, given the right circumstances.
”I found a lot of the objections to be smokescreens and red herrings,” said Mr Wood. ”I speak for a lot of people in Montrose, likely the majority, who support Glaxo in this.
”Of course this is going to be something that doesn’t sit well with some Ferryden residents and some people in Montrose itself, but the fact is it’s a commercial site. I thought that the representation of the meeting was too negative.
”For more than 20 years I was a community councillor and I know the main thing they have to consider is employment,” he went on.”People are not daft. They know the turbines will guarantee jobs and security for Montrose for decades to come.
”I call on Angus councillors who aren’t involved in the planning to come forward and make their feelings on the subject known. Also Montrose Community Council must let people know how they feel.”
Bill Gibson, another former burgh community councillor and Montrose resident, spoke in support of Mr Wood’s claims.
”I think there were more people in support at that meeting who stayed silent for whatever reason,” he said. ”I think from speaking to people around town there is a good support for the turbines, and a large number of people who are unconcerned, in that they are happy to have the turbines as long as it keeps jobs here.
”There is a lot of money in the offshore turbines and Montrose could attract maintenance jobs what better advert for being open for business than two at the mouth of the river? These are very hard times for firms to stay local and we should grasp every opportunity we have to safeguard the future.”