A group set up to counter the spread of windfarms in Caithness is furious about a five-turbine development being given planning approval without going before councillors.
The venture is set to go ahead on farmland at Wathegar, near Watten, close to the existing small windfarms at Bilbster and Achairn.
Caithness Windfarm Information Forum (CWIG) is angry that the Wathegar scheme has been given the green light by officials.
CWIG spokesman Stuart Young said his group had objected mainly on the grounds of the cumulative impact the turbines would have in the area.
Local farmer Danny Miller, of Netherton Mains, is behind the scheme to put up five turbines.
Mr Young said: “How is it possible in a democracy for something like a £7million to £10million industrial development in the middle of the countryside to be approved by officials without even as much as a nod to the elected members.”
“Several members of the planning committee I spoke to did not know the scheme had been approved and the committee chairman, Donnie Mackay, was stunned when I told him.”
Mr Young said it appeared to be a case of approval “by stealth”.
He meanwhile welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision to uphold the council’s rejection of the five-turbine plan for West Shebster.
Senior council planner David Mudie said the Watheger scheme was one of the first developments of its kind in the Highlands to be dealt with by delegated powers.
He said: “Our new scheme of delegation allows us to delegate many more types of development.
“It is also an acknowledgement that the technology involved is well understood and some of the issues not as controversial as before.”
He said CWIF was one of two objections.
The new regime meant an application only required to be referred for a decision by councillors if there are at least five objections, from different addresses.