A COWAL councillor has succeeded in securing an extension to the deadline for objections to the proposed Giant’s Burn wind farm in Dunoon.
Argyll and Bute Liberal Democrat councillor William Sinclair confirmed this week that the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit, (ECU), has agreed to accept submissions beyond the original September 1 deadline.
Councillor Sinclair first wrote to the unit last month calling for more time for local residents to lodge their objections and on Tuesday he received a response from the cabinet secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Gillian Martin MSP
A portion of her statement read: “During determination ministers may consider comments made after any advertised deadlines, therefore at this time the ECU will continue to process and publish any representations received prior to determination. The ECU cannot provide an estimated timeline for determinations at this time.”
The news that further objections will now be
received beyond the original September 1 deadline was welcomed by councillor Sinclair, who explained that locals can continue lodging their objections if they haven’t done so already.
He said: “I am really delighted for the good people of Cowal and Dunoon that the minister has gone further than just offer an extension to the deadline but has said that the Energy Consent Unit will continue to accept objection letters on an open-ended basis, right up until the determination is made. I consider this to be a victory for common sense.
Iamnowofthe understanding that the level of objections has now surpassed800andcounting just for the record this wind farm application is now in the category of one of the most objected to in Scotland.”
It’s understood the Energy Consents Unit will continue to process and publish objections until ministers reach their determination, though no timeline has yet been set for when that decision will take place.
