GOVERNMENT AGENCIES REFUSE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT WINDFARM FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
Hi All
As you may recall, last year we asked Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) for precise details about leases and other land and financial arrangements relating to Clashindarroch and the windfarm plans. This matters because it may help us to understand why the government is refusing to stop the destruction of the wildcat’s last, major stronghold.
After extensive delays they refused to disclose the environmental information we had asked them for. No redactions, no plans, nothing. They claimed it was due to commercial confidentiality.
We then asked for an internal review and eventually submitted a corporate complaint in accordance with the agency’s complaints handling procedure. We had a response to that which again confirmed they were “working on” the determination of our request for internal review in relation to this Environmental Information. Yet more stalling. It’s important to note that this response came from Director level in response to a letter to the CEO of the Agency, so this is going right to the top of FLS.
After many months of waiting and effectively being fobbed off, we have still not received any formal response from the agency. This obviously rings alarm bells for us as they seem very reluctant to provide us with the details of the financial arrangements surrounding the windfarm. Therefore we are now challenging this misleading behaviour and, in our view, blatant attempt to frustrate access to information requests and game the system for time.
We have now lodged a formal application with the Scottish Information Commissioner for an enforcement decision in respect of our as yet unanswered request.
So, this application to the Commissioner will also set an important marker in COVID-19 in the face of such clear and flagrant attempts by public authorities to “game” the system for time and potentially use the pandemic as mere cover for frustrating the exercise of legitimate environmental rights.
Transparency matters — but it’s frustrating that rather than complying with the law the agency instead chooses to use its resources (paid for by taxpayers) to fill more forms to avoid doing what it should have done months ago by law. Such behaviour raises much wider concerns.
You will also note that Nicola Sturgeon has received thousands of letters and emails from you all and has kept publicly silent on the matter. This along with government agencies refusing to comply with Environmental Information requests (a legal requirement), is leading us to think that there are details of financial arrangements about this windfarm, that the government don’t want to be made public.
With the future of the Scottish wildcat at stake, this is not acceptable to us. We will keep fighting and keep you posted. Meanwhile, thank you for your continued support in helping us to fight for accountability and giving the magnificent wildcat a voice.
To find out more visit:
Many thanks
The Wildcat Haven team.