Scottish Parliament to recognise Highland community council convention on renewables project reiterating demands for a pause on developments
The Scottish Parliament is set to recognise the Highland convention on renewables projects for ‘amplifying the voices’ of those concerned at the ‘industrialisation of natural landscapes’.
It comes as efforts for a second gathering involving MPs, MSPs and other elected representatives and statutory bodies gathers momentum with the aim of holding the event in August.
In one of the more remarkable and impassioned meetings of its kind more than 300 people attended and voiced their concerns – chiefly that they are being ignored by the Scottish Government and Highland Council.
Those gathered issued a statement calling on lawmakers to protect communities nationally and pause all major applications until a clear national energy policy and an economic impact assessment are completed.
The motion to Holyrood was tabled by North East Scotland Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden who wanted to recognise the more than “50 community councils representing more than 72,000 residents.”
He was backed by fellow Conservative leader Russell Findlay as well as Edward Mountain, Douglas Ross, Tim Eagle, Jeremy Balfour, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Alexander Stewart, and Annie Wells.
In it he called on the parliament to note “the convention’s reported concern regarding the cumulative impact of major renewable energy infrastructure developments across the Highlands, including the industrialisation of natural landscapes and the effect on local communities, democracy and tourism”.
That Holyrood also “acknowledges the convention’s reported call for an urgent pause on all major energy infrastructure applications until a coherent and democratically accountable national energy policy and comprehensive economic impact assessment are in place.”
It continued that the parliament “supports the demand for a national planning inquiry commission to assess the cumulative impact of energy infrastructure on the environment, economy, and rural communities.”
Finally it commends “Councillor Helen Crawford for her leadership and commitment in convening what it sees as this important gathering and amplifying the voices of affected communities across the region.”
