More than 80 SNP, Labour and Green politicians have voted against opposing plans to build floating platforms the size of around 5,600 football pitches along the Moray Firth in a move described as a betrayal to coastal communities.
In the Scottish Parliament, Buckie-based MSP Tim Eagle tabled an amendment that forced a vote against the Moray FLOW-Park.
The plans, which could span 20 miles, would see areas of seabed off Nairn, Culbin and Findhorn used as temporary anchorage for foundation base units — large platforms usually made from concrete or metal.
It marks a week since Mr Eagle held a public meeting on the project, drawing a crowd of more than 600 people, amid concerns over the impact on fishing, tourism and wildlife.
At Holyrood, Mr Eagle, who lives in Moray, called for MSPs to vote in the chamber to “oppose the proposed Moray Firth FLOW-Park which will have a negative impact on the local community including the local fishing industry”.
However, 82 MSPs from the SNP, Labour and the Greens voted against the motion to oppose the plans, while a further 16 chose not to vote.
Following the vote, Buckie-based Scottish Conservative MSP and fishing spokesman Tim Eagle said: “This was the perfect opportunity for MSPs from all parties to send a united message that the Scottish Parliament is listening to the concerns of communities about Moray FLOW-Park.
“Voting against these proposals would have underlined at parliament level that this is not the right location for a project of this magnitude.
“Instead, party politics prevailed, and MSPs from the SNP, Labour and the Greens chose to turn a blind eye to these fears.
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“Ignoring the concerns of residents is an abdication of responsibility and a betrayal to our coastal communities.
“What makes this even worse is that the vote took place during a debate on fishing – one of the industries that has felt misled and overlooked throughout the planning process.
“Fishermen, as well as our tourism sector, have invested heavily to diversify their businesses, to build resilience and to create jobs which they are now being asked to sacrifice everything for in exchange for nothing in return.”
