Cllr Alan Hill has voiced his astonishment that the controversial Largs forestry proposal details are not being made 'freely accessible' to the public.
The councillor has written to Forestry Commission Scotland requesting an extension to the consultation period in respect of the new Largs Forestry proposals.
Stakis intend to plant a new forest on the hillside above Largs within an area extending to some 1,400 Hectares. The Environmental Impact Assessment has now been issued for a public consultation of 28 days.
Cllr Hill commented: “Stakis and their advisers have been working on this proposal for almost three years. The Largs Forestry proposals will be amongst the largest forest planting proposals in south west Scotland and will quite dramatically change the appearance of the hills behind the town.
"I am told that the forestry proposal extends to the equivalent of 1,480 football pitches or to an area around half the land mass of the Isle of Cumbrae. In anyone’s book this is a major proposal and merits detailed discussion and consideration.
"The Impact Assessment extends to more than 800 pages of detail and plans. It is frankly unacceptable and undemocratic that local people get a mere 28 days within which to attempt to wade through this detailed report and then respond to it.
"We have also to bear in mind that this public consultation is being launched just days before our schools break up for the summer and very many local people depart on holiday. Again this is an entirely unacceptable time to hold a public consultation of this magnitude.”
The Forestry proposals require to be approved or otherwise by Forestry Commission Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage, North Ayrshire Council, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park and others are consultees only. A copy of the Impact Assessment has been lodged with library. The EIA is not available online although a hard copy can be purchased for £200 or on CD-ROM for £10.
Cllr Hill added, “I find it frankly astonishing in 2016 that information regarding an alteration to the local landscape on such a scale is not being made freely accessible to local people.
The Scottish Government has a strong agenda of community empowerment but this message seems not to have reached the Forestry Commission. I have contacted Stakis’ Adviser Tilhill and the Forestry Commission requesting that they immediately place a full copy of the EIA online to facilitate easy access for local people.”
Councillor Hill is urging local people to contact the Forestry Commission requesting an extension to the formal consultation timescale.
Cllr Hill confirmed, “I have written to Forestry Commission Scotland requesting an extension to the consultation period in order to allow for local residents and other consultees to have a reasonable time within which to respond fully to these significant proposals for this area.
"I will also be contacting my fellow local councillors, community councillors and others and asking them to also contact Forestry Commission Scotland requesting an extension to the 28 day consultation period.
"I would urge as many local residents as possible to write or email the Forestry Commission directly requesting an extension to the consultation period. The Forestry Commission can be contacted as follows:- Email : centralscotland.cons@forestry.gsi.gov.uk