STAFFING shortages are being blamed for the number of windfarm planning applications in Dumfries and Galloway being passed to the Scottish Government to decide.
Of the 50 most recent windfarm projects taken to the national planning and environmental appeals division, 11 have been in Dumfries and Galloway.
Now Finlay Carson MSP fears that more companies will be attracted to lodge applications in south west Scotland, which is already one of the country’s most popular locations for turbines.
He said: “As a direct result of the council failing to determine an application in the four month timescale, it worries me that others will submit applications knowing that they can go to the Scottish Government on appeal.
“The local authority needs to recruit more staff as a matter of great urgency before we are completely swamped with planning applications.
“It has been saying for many months now that they are looking to add more staff, clearly time is now of the essence to act swiftly before the situation gets out of hand.”
The Galloway and West Dumfries MSP has previously voiced concern over the growing number of windfarm developments in his constituency, fearing it will destroy rural life and tourism.
He added: “I am not opposed to wind power and do believe it has a major part to play, but it has to be considered in context, alongside other forms of energy – and not the only option being considered.”
Responding, a council spokesperson said: “In terms of major windfarm developments, where these are submitted to the council as planning applications (as opposed to the Scottish Government under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989), the council has four months in which to determine the application unless a processing agreement setting out a realistic agreed timescale for determination of the application has been entered into between the applicant and the council.
“Given the volume of such applications currently, together with the complexity of each case, the amount of consultation responses required, and the small size of the team processing these applications, we always seek the use of a processing agreement.
“However, there is no obligation on developers to do this and some decline these requests, in order to retain their right to submit a non-determination appeal to the Scottish Ministers after the four month period has expired. We cannot prevent any applicant from exercising this right.
“The challenges currently facing the council’s development management service are well documented. There have been reports setting out the independent review of the service, the resultant action plan to address the 17 recommendations made and the additional resourcing required.”
