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MSP wants councils to have final say on windfarms

Tory candidate Murdo Fraser.
Tory candidate Murdo Fraser.

Perth and Kinross Council should have the final say on whether to approve controversial windfarms it has been claimed.

Murdo Fraser MSP, one of the representatives for Mid Scotland and Fife, said that a Conservative government would not subsidise windfarms if they win the 2015 general election.

Energy Minister Michael Fallon has said that councils in England and Wales would have the “decisive say” on new onshore windfarms from that date, and Mr Fraser said he wants councils in his constituency to do likewise.

He highlighted that the Scottish Conservatives have announced a major energy policy review calling for subsidies to be phased out in Scotland.

And the party has often criticised the Scottish Government for overruling councils when windfarm applications have been initially refused.

Mr Fraser, who is the Scottish Conservative energy spokesman, said: “This is a welcome commitment, and one that should be adopted by the Scottish Government too.

“Windfarms have a place, but that has been wildly overstretched by an SNP government obsessed by unrealistic renewable energy targets.”

He continued: “It’s completely unacceptable for a council to make an informed decision on a windfarm application after consulting experts and local communities, only to be overruled by ministers in Edinburgh.

“Last year, the Scottish Conservatives committed to phasing out windfarm subsidies.”

The Scottish Conservatives have previously called for a moratorium to allow “overwhelmed” council planning departments “space to breathe” amid the influx of applications.

The Tories claim Scotland now hosts more than 50% of the UK’s onshore wind turbines.

Mr Fallon had said any project not granted planning permission before the election would not get funds due to the UK having sufficient wind power to meet 2020 EU targets.

He stated the Conservative Party would change the law within six months if they won the 2015 election, enabling local authorities to deal with windfarm applications.

Mr Fraser also claimed windfarms have been a factor in increasing fuel poverty.

He said: “Unlike nuclear power, which is a source of reliable base load, wind provides an intermittent, unreliable and unpredictable source of power, which requires back up at all times from conventional generation.

“It also requires substantial grid upgrades, all of which have to be paid for by the poor consumer.

“So the dash for renewables is what is driving up fuel bills, and is a contributor to fuel poverty. I accept there is need to decarbonise the energy supply, and I believe it can be done more affordably by going the nuclear route.

“But even that is going to be much more expensive than what we currently have.”

A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said they did not wish to comment on Mr Fraser’s claims that the local authority should have the final say regarding passing consent on windfarms.