Not Really The Response I Was After...

...but I'm not surprised. The old stereo-type of ask a politician a question and the response dances around the actual issue raised was certainly true when I got a response from a recent email.

So the background, following reading the MC of S's manifesto on onshore wind farms I emailed David Gibson, Chief Officer of the MC of S supporting everything that the manifesto stands for. I offered any assistance I could, I'm still not sure what I can do but the offer still stands. I have received a response from him since and as you would expect he had received a lot of since publishing the manifesto and would be back in touch in due course.

Next a certain Mr Alan Sloman stepped in reiterating the importance of the manifesto and pushing folks to become involved, it was then I took the next step of writing to my local MSP. Now, I don't follow politics, I feel, as many others possibly do, that we will get shafted who ever stands at the lectern. It is probably a very ignorant view but that's a story for another day. I looked up my local MSP on the Scottish Parliament website which gave me Mr James Kelly MSP's contact details. I figured, as he is my areas MSP, he would be the man I should go to so the email below was sent to him.

"Mr Kelly,

I have copied in a web page by the Mountaineering Council Of Scotland. They have produced a manifesto on the positioning of wind farms throughout the wild lands of Scotland.

http://www.mcofs.org.uk/lps.asp

As a keen outdoor enthusiast I appreciate the surroundings that Scotland has to offer. I, and many like me, do not want to see these ugly contraptions put in areas where they will scar the views forever. The MCofS has drawn a line to defend the Munros and Corbetts, I feel that any area of natural beauty should be left untarnished.

I am not a politician, I do not yet know what the best way to oppose the wind farms. This is why I have come to you to put this point to parliament and who ever else needs to know.

I sure you will be able to help me in my plight.

Regards,

Davy Wright"

Pretty short and to the point, I lay my cards on the table and ask for assistance on the matter of wind farms, right? Well, I then received an email from Mr Kelly's Chief Whip (Oo er missus!) looking for my address so a letter can be sent to me. I did highlight in my response that an email would suffice in this day in age but no reply was to be had. Below is a scan of the letter I received -

Really I should have expected this but even with my lack of intelligence the first read highlighted the fact that everything that was being referred to was nothing to do with the manifesto or the question I asked?!?! 

I was also sent the document below(there is another 16 pages of it and if anyone wants let me know, I have it in PDF now) it may come in handy but we're beyond this in some areas, bolting the gate and all that...

So my next step is to go back to Mr Kelly MSP looking for a more detailed response specifically on wind farms and how to combat the possibility of the spinning wheels scarring the Scottish landscape. What I'm looking for 'folks with outdoor appreciation' is your intelligent input to put across to the hands of power to what they must do to assist the common man(and women) in their goal to rid the wind farms from the Scottish Wildlands. I will send him this blog link with the attached comments and then maybe we make more of an impact as a community.

I look forward to hearing your comments and ideas.

Cheers, Davy