Highland Council has rejected Councillor Helen Crawford's motion calling for a full Council debate on altering the planning process to empower local communities so they can have more say on energy planning applications.
Councillor Crawford submitted a motion to Highland Council to urgently review the consultation and planning process to enable communities to have more say over energy generation, storage and transmission planning applications due to the recent influx of applications.
However, the Convenor of Highland Council confirmed to Cllr Crawford that he will not allow it to proceed onto the agenda, despite it having cross-party support and backing for community councils and local reresidents.
Councillor Crawford is now planning to submit it again for the next Full Council meeting on 19th September 2024 so that local communities can have their voices and wishes heard.
Councillor Crawford represents Aird and Loch Ness, which is the epicentre of major upgrades by SSEN to power lines and substations, with multiple major planning applications being presented by developers given the proximity to the grid.
Speaking about the Motion, Cllr Crawford said: “This motion is about our planning process and what Highland Council can do right now to ensure that the views of our communities are taken on board.
"I am tremendously disappointed that it was blocked from being put on the Agenda for the upcoming Full Council meeting on 27th June. Our communities are looking for us to take action now. But I will press on, look at how it can be strengthened and hopefully lodge it again for the September Council meeting.
"In many parts of The Highlands we are seeing a significant number of major renewable energy development applications and it’s crucial that the views of the communities who are going to be directly impacted are fully taken on board. They know the land; they live here, and they know how their community functions.
"I have heard from some communities who are confused about what is happening, communities who think it is inevitable and communities that are positive about it and want to secure as much community benefit as possible. However, I’ve also heard from communities, utterly distraught about the possible impact on their way of life, health, jobs, businesses, our Highland landscape and cultural heritage.
"We need to do all that we can to ensure that community views are genuinely represented in the planning process and that developers are held to account and engage meaningfully with our communities when they raise concerns. If we do not crack on with that now, it’s going to be too late, given the avalanche of applications that we are receiving.
“This Motion is really important - it’s the nuts and bolts of how the Highland Council can help people right now, who live in the Highlands or who care about the Highlands, to be heard."