Last year Sutherland councillors questioned the competence of the Gordonbush windfarm planning hearing. Since the original application was lodged, many changes in standards and expectations, and in personnel both within Highland Council and community councils, had taken place.

They questioned whether it represented good practice to consider the application at that time without further consultation. In addition to this, councillors requested a local public inquiry by a vote of 1-3.

However, the Scottish Government had "set time limits and procedures in relation to the application" and gave approval to Scottish and Southern Energy for this grotesque development. Last week a government spokesman was quoted as saying "people who are unhappy with the way the decision was made are free to seek a judicial review to the Court of Session, but we're not aware of that having happened in this case".

Judicial reviews - which incidentally have a success rate of about 4% - cost anything upwards of £60,000. Is this the new price of democracy?
William MacTaggart, Helmsdale, Sutherland.