Due process

Tessa Packard (Letters, 7 June) believes that wind-power planning decisions should be swayed by emotion. There will always be some who oppose development which they see as affecting their own interests, so there needs to be a sensible process for weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of any proposal.

We have such a process: when people disagree with the results, we have public inquiries. In the case of the Lammermuir Hills project, we have had two. The conclusions of the Reporter and Scottish ministers are now awaited.

Opponents of the scheme have had every opportunity to put their case. Everyone has the right to protest if their voice is not heard. But in a civilised and democratic society, when the voices have been heard, decisions must be taken quietly on the basis of the evidence presented, not subverted by emotional pressure from those who believe they have lost the rational argument.

Ms Packard suggests North British Windpower is a multinational corporation. It is not. It is a private Scottish company, working in Scotland with an office in Edinburgh. The majority of the shareholders live in Scotland.

She complains that our company spokesman is anonymous. That is because he represents the views of the company and speaks for all of us. While we respect the right of others to publicise their opinions, they should also accept that our spokesman can put forward our views, even if they do not like them.

CHRISTOPHER WILKINS

Chairman

North British Windpower

Lochside Way, Edinburgh