‘Secret deals’ claim by community body
The only community council to have taken part in negotiating a potential package of financial benefits from the proposed Lingo windfarm has now withdrawn its co-operation, claiming it has been ‘stabbed in the back’ with ‘secret deals’ being done.
Despite being opposed to the windfarm plan, representatives of Boarhills and Dunino Community Council (BDCC) attended a meeting of the Lingo Community Benefit Forum in April.
But following the recent announcement by energy firm West Coast Energy that a deal had already been struck to hand over cash to the four communities nearest Lingo, BDCC have decided to take no further part in any discussions.
INVITATION
At its most recent meeting the community council decided unanimously to reject an invitation to a meeting set up to explain the deal West Coast Energy had agreed with a group called the Arncroach and Carnbee Community Development Trust Benefits Sub-Group.
In a strongly worded reply sent to the Carnbee and Arncroach Development Trust, BDCC said: “The unanimous feeling of the committee and those residents present was that we should have nothing further to do with you.
“As you are no doubt aware both the Boarhills and Dunino community councillors raised their hands at the last Forum meeting in April to confirm that they wished to continue to work with the Forum in agreeing a community benefit package.
“For a secret deal then to be done in their absence behind closed doors is unbelievable and totally undemocratic.
CONTEMPT
“We were so disgusted at being stabbed in the back and treated with contempt that we would never feel we could trust anything you might come up with.”
A spokesperson for the Arncroach and Carnbee Community Development Trust confirmed it met last Wednesday evening but did not want to disclose the outcome.
OBJECTIONS
The community councils of Cameron, Carnbee and Arncroach, Boarhills and Dunino and St Andrews, are all opposed to the construction of the Lingo Windfarm and more than 400 objections have been submitted.
Last month West Coast Energy announced they had reached an agreement with a “progressive and positive group of local residents” to give nearby communities a ten per cent share in the schemes net profits.
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Weather for Kirkcaldy
Wednesday 19 June 2013
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