Community meeting with Maree Todd to discuss concerns over more renewable developments in the area

The meeting was organised by the local campaign group NORoS (No Ring of Steel Kyle of Sutherland). It was held on 13th February at Bonar Bridge Hall, with over 150 people attending.

Those in the community who are concerned about the cumulative, socio-economic and environmental effects of new renewable energy developments around the Kyle were given the chance to ask questions at a community meeting with Maree Todd, MSP and Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport.

Maree undertook to follow up on various issues. She first made it clear that there is little she can do as a local MSP, as she is hampered by planning decisions being made by the UK Parliament (Scotland’s energy policy is governed by the UK Parliament), and she must abide by the constraints imposed on her by the Ministerial Code. In her capacity as a minister, Maree can make an intervention in Parliament, but she can only speak on behalf of Government. Ministers are bound to a collective responsibility and cannot be seen to be prejudiced in decision: for example they must not indicate that they have made a decision on a planning matter which is live. Despite these constraints, Maree did promise to help and report back to the community in a couple of months on the following:


• Facilitating a meeting between representatives of the community and campaigners with both the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero & Energy, Gillian Martin, and the Minister for Climate Action, Alasdair Allan, at Holyrood. It would not be possible for any ministers to visit this specific area as this would be seen to be in breach of the ministerial code.
• Push for a clearer definition of how cumulative impact is interpreted in law.
• Continue to lobby for a change to standing charges in this area. Pricing is fixed by Ofgem, which is ultimately the responsibility of The UK Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
• The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service is currently not a statutory consultee for any renewable energy application which includes a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) development. Maree said she would research this issue and pursue a change to the primary legislation.

• Look into the staffing of NatureScot and SEPA, as both organisations are being stretched as they try to cope with an extraordinary influx of applications.
• The comment was made that Meall Buidhe Wind Farm application had over 300 objections, which represents around 90% of the immediate community. The question was asked if percentages of objections in relation to local population numbers are taken into account when applications are being considered.
• Compulsory Purchase Orders were also mentioned, which are especially relevant to development access routes.

• Attention was drawn to the omission of topics from developers’ Environmental Impact Assessment Reports such as Major Accidents and Disasters. These are especially important where BESS are proposed for a development. This is a matter overseen by Scottish Ministers, and not by Westminster. 

• The issue of mental health was raised by a member of the community, who said The Scottish Human Rights Commission’s recent report recommends “the Scottish Government ‘listens to local communities’ in adopting a human rights approach.” They asked Maree, as Minister for Mental Wellbeing, to “comment on the strain placed on the mental health of local communities in this area as they grapple with the relentless flow of wind farm applications, appeals and reapplications.” 

• Maree declined to answer a question about accountability for loss of value to a property or business as a result of renewable energy developments, and for the loss of life and environmental damage which might come about as a result of a thermal runaway. 


Maree Todd has taken away action points from the meeting and will provide updates to the community

Asked about the meeting Maree Todd said, “Thank you to everyone who attended February’s public meeting in Bonar Bridge on onshore wind farm developments in the Kyle of Sutherland area. This was an important opportunity for me to hear directly from the local community. I fully recognise the strength of feeling on this issue and remain committed to ensuring that the voices of local residents are heard. I have taken away several key action points from the meeting and will provide updates to the community in due course.”


A spokeperson for NORoS said, “NORoS is a local campaign group which seeks to resist the transformation of Strath Oykel, Glen Cassley and the Kyle of Sutherland into an industrialised landscape. We are delighted that Maree Todd is committed to helping our community in the ways listed here. NORoS welcomes new members and contributions to continue and develop a campaign which began in 2018 and will likely continue for years to come. Most recently an application for the proposed Allt an Tuir Energy Park including a risky BESS and a massive solar photovoltaic (PV) array has been lodged with the Scottish Energy Consents Unit with a deadline for objections on 28th March. The site is located approximately 2km northwest of Rosehall village, with one turbine sited only 1.5 km away from the nearest property.”
More information about NORoS can be found on www.noringofsteel.com. An updated map of wind farm developments around the area is available here.

By Silvia Muras with information from Tisi Dutton