People in Moray are being asked to help shape the local authority’s future policy on windfarms.
Residents’ views will be taken into account as the council works out a new strategy for dealing with what are often controversial planning applications.
It has launched a consultation which will run until November.
Officers say feedback will help identify areas “likely to be most appropriate for wind turbine developments”.
And last night anti-windfarm campaigners said the scheme also offered an opportunity to suggest areas which should become no-go zones for turbines.
Rothes resident Marion Ross helped lead the Brown Muir Action Group’s successful campaign against green energy firm Vento Ludens bid to site 420ft devices near Rothes.
Mrs Ross said: “I just hope that people respond to this, I feel it’s quite important.
“These things are stuck up for at least 25 years and people will have to live with them.
“Brown Muir was identified as a landmark hill as part of an agreed policy, and that was important in our attempts to prevent turbines going up on it.”
The chairman of Moray Council’s planning and regulatory services committee, Chris Tuke, assured residents that every response received would be considered.
Councillor Tuke said: “They will all be read and reported to the committee, the more people that write in then the more say the public will have.”
The council is looking to update guidelines first formed in 2013.
The policy aims to set out the authority’s approach to considering and determining planning applications, and making observations on proposals being submitted to the Scottish Government.
Officers have also refined a study on the “landscape sensitivities” which could preclude development from taking place.
Feedback can be posted to Development Plans, Development Services, Moray Council, PO Box 6760, Elgin, IV30 9BX or e-mailed to localdevelopmentplan@moray.gov.uk.
A drop-in session will also be held at New Elgin Hall on Monday, October 17.
