Letter: Bad planning

Published on Saturday 7 January 2012 04:58

THE article by Mark Stephens about the threat to the iconic landscape of the Falls of Clyde and the World Heritage Site of New Lanark (Perspective, 6 January) should worry anyone who values Scotland’s landscape and heritage.

Scotland is not short of sand and gravel and there would be no difficulty in finding adequate supplies elsewhere, even in South Lanarkshire, without putting this area of prime environmental quality at risk. While employment is important, that too could be provided by development elsewhere.

This is an example of a wider problem: the Trump affair, the Beauly-Denny power line and the widespread development of wind turbines, as well as this proposed development all demonstrate that Scotland’s planning system is no longer fit for purpose.

It is cumbersome, unable to consider alternatives and without the ability to anticipate future need. It is time it was comprehensively reformed.

Gavin McCrone

Lauder Road

Edinburgh

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Donald Ford

Monday, January 9, 2012 at 02:13 PM

As one who derives his livelihood from capturing the Scottish landscape on camera, I have a clear interest in the correspondence recently on planning matters ( the Mark Stephens article and, in particular, Gavin McCrone's letter in Saturday's Scotsman. ) I cannot offer an opinion on whether "....Scotland's planning system is no longer fit for purpose....." ( Mr. McCrone's conclusion ). I am deeply concerned, however, that little or no consideration is given to the LONG TERM effects of MANY decisions on what is done or not done around the country. The apparent acceleration of wind turbine erection is a perfect example. Did we ever pull together our best scientists, geologists, meteorologists and other highly qualified scientists to offer THEIR opinions on the correct way forward over, say, fifty years? Or did politicians simply decide that this was the future for energy supply and not bother to ask the experts? I wouldn't suggest for a minute that the Beauly to Denny power line will descend to the same level as the Edinburgh Tram System but - surely - the long term effects of such a horrific scar across a huge area of our landscape had to be expertly examined before approval was given? Is it simply my imagination, or do our elected politicians and officials consider nothing other than the SHORT term when making key decisions nowadays? Transport, education, health - and other areas - require just as much careful thought and planning on long-term implications as does physical planning. Can our leaders honestly put hands on hearts and confirm that is fundamental to their decision-making? Or do they only look as far as the next election? Donald Ford

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spoot

Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 08:51 AM

Perhaps the Falls of Clyde woyuld be better described as an "occasional iconic landscape". Since the building of the hydro-electric scheme in 1927 the full grandeur of Bonnington Linn and Corra Linn can only be fully appreciated on the occasional Waterfall Days.

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