CLASHINDARROCH WINDFARM- HOUSE OF CARDS
Hi All
As promised here is the Clashindarroch update. Suffice it to say, alongside our lawyers, we have been very busy indeed. With every legal letter we send, the pressure is building and this is evidenced by the quite frankly, extraordinary responses we are receiving from the government agencies.
Let us give you an example. In a response from Nature Scot, they state that it is apparently 'normal practice' for them to sign off on draft development documents. Really....? A draft document is just that, a draft. It can be charged at any point. Is that really an appropriate way for the agency in charge of protecting Scotland's wildlife to behave? It's a green light for reckless development as we have seen.
Nature Scot have also confirmed that they still have no copies of any final versions of the Species Protection Plan or the Habitat Management Plan. This is despite signing off drafts many months ago. They have also revealed that they have not seen any pre felling surveys from Vattenfall and have issued no licenses to allow the disturbance of wildcats.
So, given all the above, it seems very clear that any current logging is both illegal and in clear breach of the planning conditions and relevant legislation.
Our legal team have now formally invoked the Environmental Liability Regulations (2009). This holds Nature Scot responsible for investigating this whole issue. Crucially this means that Nature Scot will have to investigate the other government agencies involved, such as Forest and Land Scotland. They will also have to investigate the government Ministers who signed this shambolic development off. This a powerful piece of legislation and if Nature Scot refuse to implement it or do a less than thorough job ( which of course is likely), then they can and indeed will, be subject to court proceedings.
Our lawyers have also formally written to the Enforcement officer at the council. We allege that Vattenfall are operating in clear breach of their planning conditions. The council will now investigate this. If breaches are identified, then all works can be halted and criminal proceedings brought.
So, we now have government agencies investigating each other. We also have Vattenfall under investigation by the Council for alleged licensing breaches and the Police, about the theft of our monitoring camera.
As you can see, we are applying maximum pressure across multiple areas. The more we push, the more the cracks are appearing. All the lies, deceit, dodgy agreements, suppression of information, is all being exposed and catching up with all those involved. This proposed development is a house of cards bolts in shoddy and dodgy foundations. It's a national disgrace. With growing momentum we can collectively knock it down. If the next responses to our legal letters are not satisfactory and this madness is allowed to continue, then we will drag the relevant agencies to court.
We have stayed in this fight and we aren't going anywhere. This development can be stopped and those responsible for this most shocking betrayal of the wildcat will all be fully held to account.
We must remember that at the centre of all this is the Scottish wildcat. Ferociously wild, yet incredibly vulnerable to being betrayed and exploited. Their elusive nature that has enabled them to survive, is now used against them by those who seek to profit from the destruction of their forest home. That is sickening. The agencies that are supposed to protect them, are the ones who threaten their very existence. And all this for money. This whole thing stinks and the stench is getting stronger.
We say NO to this betrayal and stand together to defend these truly wild, yet vulnerable animals. We defend them with vigour using every tool and option available. This will continue, until finally the Clashindarroch wildcats can live in peace.
Now is the time to ramp up the pressure and be relentless in our pursuit of justice. As you always do, please continue to support our fight for the wildcat at this link. We simply couldn't do it without you:
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/wildcats/
Sincere thanks as always. We are more motivated than ever before.
Very best wishes
Emily and a Wildcat Haven Team with the ferocity of a wildcat.