How to respond to the solar farm appeal
As you know, Comsol have now appealed the decision to reject planning permission for the solar farm at the top of the island.
Those of you who submitted comments directly to North Ayrshire Council should have been contacted and offered the opportunity to respond.
Cumbrae Community Council has prepared the following information to help you do this should you choose to:
- You must reply within 14 days of the date on the letter/email.
- Quote reference: PPA-310-2039.
- You do not need to repeat comments you gave before, they will be sent to the Scottish Government reporter handling the appeal.
- So what should you write? The main question that the appeal considers is whether the decision to reject the planning application was consistent with the policies set out in North Ayrshire Council’s local development plan. This plan includes a number of policies that protect habitats like those at the top of the island and the species of birds and other wildlife that have made their home there.
- North Ayrshire Council have designated the site at the top of the island a Local Nature Conservation Site and a Special Landscape Area. These designations protect it from any development that would have a detrimental effect on its character.
- The decision to reject the planning application was made unanimously by the planning committee, and this position was supported by all of our local councillors and all MSP’s who expressed a view.
- 97% of our community who expressed a view opposed the planning application.
- In giving their decision, the planning committee highlighted the special character of Cumbrae which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors who make a significant contribution to our fragile economy. The committee felt that this development would put that contribution at risk. They also expressed concern that Comsol had not properly engaged with the community and had not taken on board any of the comments made by the community.
If you need any further guidance, please get in touch: cumbraeccouncil@gmail.com
However, if you used the proforma letter prepared by Cumbrae Community Council to express your opinion on the planning application, you will not yet have been informed about the appeal by North Ayrshire Council.
This is a shocking decision by North Ayrshire Council which excludes 240 people from their democratic right to be part of this process, and represents a rejection of the views of over half the respondents.
Cumbrae Community Council has asked the Scottish Government to make a ruling on whether this is allowed and we will continue to fight to ensure that everyone has the right to be heard.
