A major document on the future of energy consent in Scotland was made “deliberately confusing” to drive down the number of responses, MSPs heard yesterday, 28 November.
The Electricity Infrastructure Consenting in Scotland consultation was launched by the UK and Scottish governments on October 28 and closes today.
Among the proposed changes to legislation is removal of the automatic public inquiry process triggered by Scottish council objections. This will apply to the planning applications for projects such as the 400kV Kintore to Tealing.
At Holyrood, Scottish Government ministers were urged to explain their approach to communities who will “be destroyed by these projects”.
Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett said constituents who had tackled the consultation had found the “bulk of questions focused on business” and it was “not user friendly.”
The Scottish Conservative added:
“The deadline to make submissions was only one month, and closes tomorrow.
“Many of my constituents believe that the government has deliberately made this difficult, in order to reduce the number of submissions from those whose communities will be destroyed by these projects.
“Can the minister confirm if he has any influence to extend the submission period?”
The SNP’s acting climate action minister, Alasdair Allan, said the process is in the hands of Labour south of the border.
He added: “Both governments have exchanged formal correspondence to acknowledge the ongoing work and established clear expectations that engagement is now progressing in collaboration with the new UK Government.”
Mr Burnett said later:
“For months, ministers have tried to push all responsibility for the electricity network on to the UK Government.
“This is despite planning policy being a devolved matter for the Scottish Parliament, and energy secretary Gillian Martin being a joint author of the document.
“I look forward to a Scottish Government statement about its role as a consultee, and the submission Ms Martin will be making to it.”
