Community councillors on Cumbrae have spoken of their "disappointment" that the firm behind controversial plans for a solar farm has submitted extra documents after the consultation has ended.

Comsol Energy, who have lodged a planning application for the site at Wee Minnemoer, submitted extra drawings and details at the end of April.

The application is due to be heard on Wednesday, May 24, with hundreds of objections lodged to the plans.

However, Alex Harvie, chair of Cumbrae Community Council, believes the late submission of the documents means there is no chance for them to be scrutinised by the island community.

She said: “We are extremely disappointed that the applicant has been permitted to submit five drawings and a 17-page report after consultation has closed, with no opportunity for public scrutiny.

“The correct time for democratic debate and responding to concerns is before a planning application is submitted not after the opportunity for democratic objection has ended.

“We note that the additional documents submitted do not include a single change to their proposals in response to the comments made by the community, and all the objections laid out still stand.”

The island community say concerns still remain over several key issues, including the location of the site, the environmental impact, and the lack of engagement and benefit on Cumbrae.

Comsol Energy has submitted a document outlining their response to the community’s concerns, but Alex believes it did nothing to address the issues raised.

She explained: “This has been our experience of the applicant throughout the seven years that this proposal has hung over the island.

“During this time they have failed to take on board a single one of the many hundreds of formal comments that have been submitted.

“Their latest report they describe as a ‘rebuttal’ of every comment. This is in no way the constructive dialogue that we would have hoped for.

“Rebutting our comments and making vague suggestions of mitigation after the consultation period has ended is entirely inappropriate and does not address any concerns which were submitted.”

Comsol Energy declined to comment on the addition of extra documents when contacted by the News.