The Public Pays; The Agencies Avoid
The Public Pays; The Agencies Avoid IT IS UNFAIR, believes MSP Murdo Fraser, that the public objecting to planning applications has to raise tens of thousands of pounds to employ representation at public inquiries, while objecting agencies like SNH and SEPA do not provide any representation to back up their position.
On 8 June he questioned the Deputy Minister for the Environment Rhona Brankin, who stated that the Scottish Executive believes that both SNH and SEPA have adequate budgets and both agencies must exercise their own judgement on how best to use these resources.
Responding, Murdo said in the Chamber: “Is the Minister aware of the frustration amongst communities in Perthshire and the Ochils opposing at public inquiry planning applications for large-scale onshore windfarms and having to find tens of thousands of pounds to employ representation and expert witnesses to try and level the playing field with wealthy developers, whilst statutory consultees such as SEPA and SNH who have objected in writing refuse to provide representation due to a supposed lack of resources?
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Surely the Scottish Executive should make sure the statutory consultees are in a position to back up at public inquiries the evidence that they have given?”
The Deputy Minister for the Environment responded: “I can not comment on a particular case, but both SEPA and SNH have had substantial increases in their budgets. SEPA and SNH are statutory consultees and they have a range of duties within their remit. They must give high priority to submitting evidence to planning applications and it is their decision whether to give oral or written evidence.”
Afterwards, Murdo said: “The Minister claims that SEPA and SNH have adequate resources but experience on the ground tells us something different. If SEPA or SNH object to a planning application then it is their duty to give evidence to back up their objections.
“I appreciate that these bodies give written evidence if they object to a windfarm application, but they do not provide representation to back up their views at the public inquiry stage. I believe they have a duty to protect and preserve our environment and historic monuments, which means they should be providing expert witnesses at public inquiries.
“Just now, action groups that are set up by local communities are in some cases bearing the costs of providing expert witnesses. Communities across Perthshire and the Ochils are fighting against a number of planning applications and working endlessly to raise funds in order to get representation at these public inquiries.
“Both SEPA and SNH have objected to many of these planning applications yet do not provide any representation. It seems that no one is prepared to help many of these communities and action is required to make the system fairer.”
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