IN HER e-mail to the Helensburgh Advertiser (21 March), Sue Glover said that the majority of those who have commented to the Council on the Cove Community Wind Farm, mentioned "Wind Farm Gold." I have read the comments made by all of the 1,269 people, who took part in this consultation, and did not ever come across that phrase. Very many people did, however, look forward to local investment in public resources from a completely community owned development. I can understand that Mrs Glover, as a resident of Blairmore, might not be fully aware of the information which has been made available by the Community Development Trust on the peninsula, but it is then unfortunate that she chooses to make public statements about our situation.

As local people are aware, financial information was provided to a public meeting before the community vote about the planning application in October of last year. The report of this meeting in the Helensburgh Advertiser on October 23 included some of this financial information about the amounts which would have to be borrowed and the level of profits anticipated for the 100 per cent community benefit. The information was also set out at the same point on the Trust website, presented to other meetings with community councils and other public meetings, and, the following month, included in the papers with the planning application, which appeared on the council website at the beginning of this year. Cove Community Wind Farm finances were again subject of an article in the Helensburgh Advertiser on February 14 this year. On that occasion, the Trust convener was quoted as saying that the Trust's financial planning had been carried out with its funders, such as the Climate Challenge Fund, Community Energy Scotland, Argyll and the Isles LEADER, and the Big Lottery Fund, and with the banks with whom the Trust is negotiating the major loan finance, and using their computer models.

The opposition of Mrs Glover, as a resident within the Cowal area, is understood and respected. The Community Development Trust and all of its members and supporters on the peninsula and elsewhere continue to look for planning approval from the council, and to pursue successful financial arrangements with the bank and other funders. Mrs Glover can be assured that the Trust will also report back to its members and the local community about planning developments and with further financial detail, when there is something substantial to say and discuss, in the future as it has done in the past.

Andrew Reid Cove