Members of the public attending our 13 Nov meeting complained that SBC appeared not to be following important environmental regulations – potentially illegally – and asked us to raise a complaint with SBC.

This follows the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland (ERCS) recently writing to SBC expressing their view that approval of the Kingsmeadows applications without appropriate environmental assessment – as planners said they were minded to do – would be grounds for judicial review arising from breach of Habitats Regulations.

SBC declined to publish the correspondence with ERCS on the planning portal, despite a request to do so. Members of the public also asked PCC to repeat the request to publish the correspondence with ERCS.

We complained that

• SBC appears to be failing legal duties to safeguard European Protected Species (EPS)
• Failures appear to stem from a misunderstanding of the law
• Legal advice from ERCS appears to be being ignored
• Legal concerns haven't been published on the planning portal and remain unanswered
• Regulations require proof of no impact to EPS – beyond scientific doubt, based on data
• Yet planners say they are minded to decide without appropriate environmental assessment

We ask SBC to immediately

• Reject these applications
• Or pause them while the legal complaints are investigated.

Read our complaint to SBC here.

Add your complaint

If you share our concerns, we ask that you complain to SBC as well.

Complaints can be made:

• In person at SBC's Peebles contact centre on the High Street 10-12 or 2-4pm Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
• By phone to Customer Advice & Support Services 0300 100 1800
• Online SBC complaint form
• To your Councillor for Tweeddale East or West
• See more ways to complain.