Engaging with the public
The Stornoway Trust is the landowner for the Parish of Stornoway, with Trustees elected every few years to represent the different interests in the area. It is apolitical, but has Trustees from various political parties.
It has also been a leading figure in the attempt to develop windfarms in Lewis, and as such last nights meeting with the MP and MSP to discuss the future plans was timely.
When our MSP was discussing the windfarms and asked the question "So what is your Plan B?" to the Trustees, I understand that the floor was wiped with him and Mr MacNeil, with all the Trustees (including the SNP activists) laying into them with a vengeance.
The kicking was so bad, that the MP and MSP have now refused to attend the informal meeting with Councillors next Monday to get and give a regular briefing on the changes since they last met.
Or more accurately,our MP decided that he just had to attend a meeting with parents at Paible school and our MSP was stopped from attending on the advice of his Assistant, Kenny "Flip" MacLeod, who decided that he had better travel to Paible too.
Perhaps the prospect of meeting people with a differing view is a major problem for them both - which might explain the refusal to debate with the Labour candidate on Isles FM.
Why? With all the opportunities for poking fun, and ripping the usual out of the Labour Party it should have been an excellent opportunity. Instead the smell of fear is starting to become all pervasive.
It has also been a leading figure in the attempt to develop windfarms in Lewis, and as such last nights meeting with the MP and MSP to discuss the future plans was timely.
When our MSP was discussing the windfarms and asked the question "So what is your Plan B?" to the Trustees, I understand that the floor was wiped with him and Mr MacNeil, with all the Trustees (including the SNP activists) laying into them with a vengeance.
The kicking was so bad, that the MP and MSP have now refused to attend the informal meeting with Councillors next Monday to get and give a regular briefing on the changes since they last met.
Or more accurately,our MP decided that he just had to attend a meeting with parents at Paible school and our MSP was stopped from attending on the advice of his Assistant, Kenny "Flip" MacLeod, who decided that he had better travel to Paible too.
Perhaps the prospect of meeting people with a differing view is a major problem for them both - which might explain the refusal to debate with the Labour candidate on Isles FM.
Why? With all the opportunities for poking fun, and ripping the usual out of the Labour Party it should have been an excellent opportunity. Instead the smell of fear is starting to become all pervasive.
34 comments:
"...I understand that the floor was wiped with him and Mr MacNeil, with all the Trustees (including the SNP activists) laying into them with a vengeance.
The kicking was so bad, that the MP and MSP have now refused to attend the informal meeting..."
What's with the secondhand (or third or fourthhand) reporting? The way you put it sounds like your source was er, a little biased maybe? Maybe the Gazette will have a more accurate version of events...
Are they going down to have a look at the wind turbine at the school.
My experience of the whole windfarm debate has been one of self interest and hipocracy from both sides. I met with MWT and found that their combined knowledge on environmental issues, with one noteable exception, would be less than that found in the average primary School Child. They used environmental arguments to disguise the fact that they just didn't like the look of the turbines. A very bad case on NIMBYism which brought together some very peculiar bedfellows from all spectrums of the religous and political divides.
Whilst the pro windfarmers used environmental facts to justify the fact they were out to make a quick buck with all sorts of misleading arguments and selective presentations on climate change.
My own feeling still is that energy security and production is far to important to be left to market forces and that large generating plants hundreds of miles away from where the energy is required belongs in the 20th century not the 21st and is neither sustainable nor in the long term environmentally practicable.
As for AA and AM they represent the SNP at Westminster and Holyrood not the Western Isles. Thats what people wanted and thats what they got, sometimes I think we make the mistake of thinking that, apart from election time, more than 5% of the population are even interested in what our elected representatives get up to
Stornoway Trust may as well keep digging. They have stuffed things up worse than the Comharlie.So why not try and blame anyone but yourselves. Seems like a good idea.
What is the Trusts Plan B? Opps - silly me - I forgot they dont have one either.
I am told y'days showing 'in the Chamber' by our elected muppets was a joke - one even asked what the meaning of integrity was.
Well monkey multiple choice for the gent concerned
A: buy a dictionary
B: you wouldnt know cause you never had any
c: if you did have any its well and truly been lost
take your pick!
Maybe the Gazette will have a more accurate version of events...
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
Or maybe the gazette will have the SNP's version of events
You have to be Donnie "Gazette" MacInnes.
I think this post has finally blown your cover.
I find it difficult to believe that you are trying to compare the level of democracy required for the Trust with that required for the Council. There surely can be no comparison. The Trust was set up no doubt to satisfy those who were gifting the land etc to the community, with possibly a very narrow set of objectives. The Comhairle on the other hand has a very wide-ranging set of objectives and has to be far more impartial in the way it deals with matters.
The Stornoway Trust like any other Trust has to make money in order to survive, therefor it is quite reasonable for them to come up with moneymaking schemes, i.e a Wind Farm. It therefor does not matter one jot whether it is apolitical, run by a bunch of fascist dictators or a group from the looney left.
The Comhairle on the other hand is not a Trust and therefor does not have to 'turn a profit' in order to survive. The Comhairle is supposed to be democratic, elected by the people, and therefor, for the people, I just can’t see for the life of me how with so much opposition to the LWP project that it thinks it is being democratic. The phrase tyranny of the majority springs to mind.
Yes I agree the Comhairle should be involved in the proposals for the generation or regeneration of the area within it's jurisdiction, that is part of a Comhairle's mandate, but that is as far as it should go. It should not be seen as the lackey for some multinational corporation.
The Comhairle can still say that the Wind Farm idea is a good one, but if you the people don’t want it then fine lets get on a do something that will satisfy the need to regenerate the Islands economy and keep the majority happy.
The Stornoway Trust should forget about windfarms and do something useful like let us play golf on Sundays. Who do they think they are? The Trust's Iain Maciver had the cheek to speak up against the Pairc wind farm at a recent planning hearing because he'd be able to see it from Keose and Laxay. Bloody hypocrite.
I saw MacNeil and Allan out in town last night with the SNP councillors and they didn't look bashed or bruised to me.
Why should the MP or MSP debate with Macsween? Do you think Macdonald or Morrison would have agreed to the same with Alasdair Allan or Alastair Nicholson before him? Being an MP or MSP gives you the power to say 'no'. Anyway Macsween wasn't even in the Comhairle yesterday. He was probably in Inverness buying the Vice Convenor a new tie.
The Comhairle can still say that the Wind Farm idea is a good one, but if you the people don’t want it then fine lets get on a do something that will satisfy the need to regenerate the Islands economy and keep the majority happy.
And that something that will satisfy the need to regenerate the Island's economy is????????????
What is your plan b that doesn't upset a single resident.
The Stornoway Trust should forget about windfarms and do something useful like let us play golf on Sundays
spoken by someone who is either a civil servant or retired. Guaranteed income, doesn't have to worry about where the next pay cheque is coming from. You are the bloody hypocrite
Why should the MP or MSP debate with Macsween?
I didn't realise that MacSween made up the entire Comhairle these days.
Anon 4.53-
You have missed the mark by a country mile, they are actually going to Paible to a)participate in their "wear something pink day", and/or b) make the same ludicrous promises they made at Bayble, a little further North.Paible scholars are under strict instructions not to mention the "T" word whilst they dispense their outrageous homilies and empty promises.
Catch this hilarious double act, (appearing at a doomed school near you) while you can!
To anon 9.17PM
Actually, I'm working and doing rather well as it happens. The Western Isles is the land of opportunity as it is without bloody windfarms - for those that want to work and not carp like all the Labour loosers.
To eyoop 4:10 PM
I thought all the SNP activists were anti-windfarm and that only the MP and MSP were for them - apart from big Annie who's no more SNP than I am....
To anon 10:10PM
Yeah, Annie's just a big maw - why doesn't she get a real job?
Just because I don't specify a Plan 'B' doesn’t mean we have to go along with Plan 'A'
Anon 10.04
Land of opportunity? I want what you are on!
Once bitten twice shy Macneil is crapping himself after the doing he got on the Lesley Riddoch show from Macsween and a Free Church minister.
Perhaps he should change his name to ANBM (Angus No Balls Macneil).
Our MSP could not attend the show as he was going to be at home in Selkirk.
Big Annie - would you employ her?
Thats without looking at her CV
sunny side up
No dear, last time I looked I wasn't 'Donnie Gazette'.
Why must you always personalise things and name people (wrongly as well, in this case) while keeping your own anonymity? There is a well known saying that when you attack someone's character rather than the point they're making, then you've already lost the debate. Especially when you don't even know who you're addressing! I notice a worrying increase in people being named by anonymous commenters on this blog, maybe to settle old scores more than anything else. Sad.
As for this post, Angus, I wonder how you can square it with your comment in an earlier post (Emergency meeting about windfarms),
"Whatever the outcome in a few weeks time, both sides must be prepared to work together constructively in the aftermath, and if either side sits on the sidelines and sulks, then I they will face nothing but opprobrium from the public."
Is this post intended to be a start, or an example to those wishing to "work together constructively"?!
CNES have never ever sat down with MWT or sent an invite to any of their hearings at the Whitehouse.
Mind boggling when MWT are the ones with the public support
If people arent even given the time to have their say it doesnt exactly give much hope for working together.
M
Anon 10:41
Maybe that's because MWT are not a credible body. They have spent the last two years bullying people into signing their petitions.
If I recall correctly they also threatened pro-windfarm councillors.
Anon 12:02
Please state your case, with where, when etc
Again - you wont be able to, because it never happenned.
Liar
Anon 12:02
Tha thu a bruidhinn a mach as do thòin...a rithist!
When the debate is over, slander becomes the tool of the loser.
No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.
We are in a stickier situation than when Sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun.
What's with the secondhand (or third or fourthhand) reporting? The way you put it sounds like your source was er, a little biased maybe? Maybe the Gazette will have a more accurate version of events...
So Mr Eyoop, I read the Gazette today and they pretty much confirmed what Angus posted about the meeting.
Eat those words "dear".
Certainly not, Mrs. Sunny Side Up :-)
p.s. sunny side up, you still haven't provided a shred of evidence to back up your statement that MWT 'bullied' people to sign objection letters, as you've been asked to do several times on another post. Any particular reason?
Any particular reason?
Yes, you might able to work out who I am and I don't want you or any cronies from MWT bullying me or mine any more than they already have.
Also, I don't owe you in particular any proof of anything
That's a handy answer.
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