As chairman of Caithness West Community Council, Bill Brown claims he has been subjected to unwarranted criticism at planning hearings.

Farmland between Thurso and Reay is a hot spot for prospective turbine ventures, with a clutch of proposals having been tabled to add to the existing six-tower cluster at Forss.

In opposing all the prospective new wind farms, the community council insists it is reflecting the views of local people.

Mr Brown's anger about the attacks surfaced at the latest meeting of the community body.

He said: "I'm getting it thrown down my neck every time I represent the community council's view at planning hearings."

Mr Brown said developers have sought to misrepresent the group's stance as what they perceive as his personal opposition to the schemes.

He cited the public local inquiry into Orkney firm Scotrenewables' bid to put up three turbines at the Hill of Lieurary.

"I was slated on a personal level," Mr Brown recalled. "It was said that the chairman and all his relatives had sent in objections.

"It becomes so frustrating, I just wonder if it's worthwhile for the community council to get involved."

He said similar flak came at the recent planning hearing centring on local businessman Charlie Sutherland's plans for a five-turbine venture to the south of Shebster.

Mr Brown said: "Once again, I was singled out and accused of not being representative.

"I think it's close to slanderous."

The community council has held public meetings and, in the case of the plans for the proposed 21-turbine wind farm at Baillie, a ballot.

Mr Brown questioned whether the community council should hold a ballot covering the proposals for Shebster, Lieurary and the extension planned to the Forss wind farm.

Other members claimed the exercise would be a waste of money, insisting the community council has taken care to ensure its stances on individual applications take account of the local majority view.

Vice-chairman Derrick Milnes said: "All the meetings we held and the ballot on Baillie were clearly against the developments.

"I don't think holding another ballot would make any difference at all.

"To suggest we haven't taken into account the views of people in the area is complete and utter nonsense." Colleague Jim Manson agreed another ballot would be a waste of time and money.

Landward Caithness Highland councillor Willie Mackay agreed the developers were wrong to question the legitimacy of the community council's ability to speak on behalf of the area.

He said: "You're the people who have been elected and for developers to come along and claim you're not representative is very, very poor.

"You're the people who know what is going on in your area.

"For the developers to keep accusing you of not representing local opinion is a pretty bad tactic – I don't like that at all." The British Wind Energy Association yesterday claimed surveys continue to indicate widespread public support for wind farms.

While not familiar with the issues in the Far North, spokesman Nick Medic said objectors are often out of kilter with local people's views.

He said: "The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform did research last year which found that 80 per cent of people are in favour of further development of wind power and only seven per cent are opposed."

Mr Medic added: "The developers often indicate to us that very vociferous, well-organised minority groups often hijack the majority.

"You can have half-a-dozen people throwing a lot of time and resources lobbying against developments who are reflecting just a tiny fraction of local opinion.

"When you look at the whole panoply of opinion out there, the vast majority are in favour but councillors and planners can get intimidated by this unrepresentative minority."

iain-grant@ukf.net

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