Reinstating Email Submissions to the Energy Consents Unit
Public Participation in Environmental Decision Making Must Remain Accessible
A petition has now been launched calling for the reinstatement of email submissions to the Energy Consents Unit (ECU).
For many years, email provided a straightforward and universally compatible way for members of the public to submit representations on major energy infrastructure applications. Communities, campaign groups, and individuals relied on this method to submit detailed objections, supporting evidence, reports, and documentation as part of the environmental decision making process.
The recent removal of email as a submission route has significantly changed how the public can engage with the Energy Consents Unit.
Instead of being able to submit representations using standard digital communication tools, the public is now expected to rely on a constrained online portal or submit representations by post. This change introduces practical barriers that affect accessibility, formatting, attachments, and the ability to provide detailed supporting evidence.
Public participation must remain open, fair and accessible to everyone.
Why This Matters
Major energy infrastructure developments have significant impacts on communities, landscapes, wildlife, and local environments. The public must therefore be able to engage fully and effectively with the planning process.
Removing a universally compatible submission method such as email restricts how individuals and community groups can participate. It also raises serious concerns regarding accessibility and fairness within the environmental decision making framework.
Accessible communication channels are essential for ensuring that all members of the public can exercise their rights to participate in decisions that directly affect their communities.
A Clear Message to the Scottish Government
This petition aims to demonstrate that there is widespread public concern regarding the removal of email submissions.
By signing, you are helping to send a clear message to the Scottish Government, the Energy Consents Unit, and Energy Minister Gillian Martin that removing email as a method for submitting representations was the wrong decision.
Email remains one of the most accessible, widely used and universally compatible forms of digital communication. Reinstating it would restore a simple and inclusive route for public engagement in the planning process.
Sign the Petition
If you believe public participation in environmental decision making should remain accessible, please sign the petition and share it with others.
The more people who sign, the stronger the message that this issue matters to communities across Scotland.
Please sign and share the petition.
https://www.change.org/ReinstateEmail
Public participation in environmental decision making must remain accessible to everyone.
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