MEMBERS of a tiny community council are set to demonstrate at the Scottish Parliament after discovering private discussions have been taking place between two parties involved in the long awaited Fallago Rig wind farm public inquiry.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) and wind farm applicants North British Windpower have held talks since October 2008 without the knowledge of campaigners who are opposed to the 48 turbine development.
Members of Cranshaws, Ellemford and Longformacus Co
mmunity Council have been angered further by news that Scottish Government ministers received Fallago Rig's recommendations in August last year but have yet to make a final decision.
The community council believe the significant delays since the inquiry's completion in February 2008 are a sign that Scottish ministers disagree with Reporter Karen Heywood's opinion.
Along with their MSP John Lamont, the representative group are also anxious that discussions between the MoD and North British Windpower could result in the government department withdrawing its objections to the windfarm plans.
Community council chairman David Lochhead is now requesting a meeting with Energy Minister Jim Mather to discuss the Scottish Government's role in the inquiry.
Explaining how he discovered the latest developments, Mr Lochhead said: "It is usually a three month wait for a decision but we hadn't heard anything by the start of 2009 so at a community council meeting earlier this year it was decided that I write to the Scottish Government Reporter's office. They said they had given their verdict in August last year to Energy Consents Unit (Scottish Government body).
"The Energy Consents Unit said the delay was due to ongoing discussions with the developers and the Ministry of Defence.
"For additional information to be discussed is highly unusual.
"The point of a public inquiry is to be open and transparent - instead we have what seems to have secret discussions going on.
"It seems like the ministers are trying their damnest to get the wind farm approved. I think this is motivated by targets.
"I think a judicial review should be called for but you would need a QC to take on the government, which is very expensive."
Mr Lochhead added: "There is a feeling at the community council that the next stage could be a demonstration at the Scottish Parliament.
"There has been a willingness expressed to do that, though I am reluctant to go down that line until all processes are exhausted."
A Scottish Government spokesman confirmed Fallago Rig's recommendations were received in August 2008.
He also said the Scottish Government were aware of discussions taking place between the MoD and North British Windpower concerning the impact of 48 turbines, of which the MoD claimed during the public inquiry that 37 would affect a nearby RAF radar.
The spokesman said: "Ministers wrote to Defence Estates and North British Windpower Ltd in October 2008 offering them an opportunity to supply further information which was now available with regard to a possible mitigation of impacts that the Fallago Rig windfarm development may have on the Brizlee Wood radar (near Alnwick). We understand that both parties have held discussions in relation to this request."
He denied that ministers are looking to approve the windfarm plans so as to step closer to the SNP Government's 31% renewable energy target by 2011.
"We have ambitious targets but want to see the right projects in the right places. Prior to determining an application, ministers must be assured that they have all the current facts before them in order to weight up all the material considerations of the application," added the Scottish Government Spokesman.
North British Windpower director Andrew Shaw said new information appearing after public inquiries was common.
He added: "We have had discussions since the public inquiry with the MoD - they previously would not talk to us.
"If there is anything to say that is relevant to the public inquiry then there is no doubt people will be told. There are no secret deals taking place and new evidence often emerges after public inquiries."
Mr Shaw said he understood the frustrations at the delay in publishing a Scottish Government decision but added: "It is a lengthy process and there is no perfect solution. People take their time to make up their minds."
MSP John Lamont said he has written to Mr Mather asking why such a delay has occured.
He said: "I have been contacted by a number of constituents who are becoming increasingly frustrated with the delay in publishing the Reporter's findings. Bearing in mind that the result was expected almost a year ago, local residents and the community council are rightly asking questions as to what is going on behind the scenes that is leading to this delay.
"There are also questions regarding the transparency of the process given that discussions appear to be taking place behind closed doors with no form of scrutiny.
"It seems that the desire of the SNP Government is to find a way to ignore the concerns of the Ministry of Defence and press ahead with yet another wind farm."
