East Lothian Planning Committee members debated an application from Fred Olsen Renewables Ltd, for construction and operation of a repower of Crystal Rig 1 wind farm, on Tuesday 5th May.

East Lammermuir Community Council was represented at the planning committee meeting and concluded their remarks with the following appeal;

“The Council’s position is that, despite its temporary status, the access route functions as a long-term feature within this part of East Lothian and must therefore be assessed thoroughly. We agree with this.

The access route from the A1 at Thurston junction (for Innerwick) all the way up to Crystal Rig is now effectively a permanent access route for the Crystal Rig and Aikengall windfarm and associated energy development sites. Fred Olsen Renewables already have planning permission for a solar farm at Crystal Rig. CWP Energy already have planning permission to construct a BESS associated with their Aikengall windfarm. No doubt all of the Aikengall 1, 2 and 2a, and the Fred Olsen Crystal Rig 2, 3 and 4 windfarms will require repowering in due course.

If we were starting with a blank sheet, we believe that the council, the developers, and the community would all agree that the current access road is not fit for purpose. It was not constructed to support the heavy traffic it will now inevitably see.

Is it beyond our collective wit to devise a process whereby all of the relevant voices are heard in a cumulative planning approach to this permanent access road to Crystal Rig and Aikengall? Will members call on officers to facilitate such a process, working with the community council, the energy partnership, and other bodies as appropriate?

We want to see a robust road, fit for purpose, not any larger than that at present as traffic speeds are directly linked to road width, but deeper and stronger; with passing places where appropriate, safe segregation for cyclists whilst ever they have to use the road and junctions; access issues addressed according to the Right to Responsible Access, and our hedgerows protected and enhanced.” ELCC Chair

Members voted unanimously to support officers recommendation that East Lothian Council object to the proposal pending further information to be provided by Fred Olsen Renewables.