Subsea Cable
I am becoming more concerned about the impact of the proposed sub-sea cable from Gravir to Dundonnell, and the impact it is going to have on the community.
I always knew that the infrastructure was going to be potentially much more difficult to sell to the public, compared to the turbines themselves. And we all know just how difficult that has proven to be.
Like many of my colleagues in the Council, I expected the cabling landing point to be at Arnish, where an existing power station could have been upgraded to manage the electricity flows on and off island.
The original proposals for the Eishken windfarm had pylons running from Pairc to Arnish, and the indicative schematics provoked a fair degree of shock at the time. The pylons were not part of the actual planning application, and consequently could not be brought into the equation when the decision to grant/refuse planning permission was being considered. I did warn at the time that the power connections were likely to prove unacceptable, and that was looking at what we thought would be the plan.
Having had a long hard look at what is being proposed, I cannot see how it can be accepted as it stands by the planners, the community or the Council, and I hope that some very serious modifications to the proposals are enforced and agreed before it comes up for a decision, but the track record is not good.
My most serious concern is the proximity of the cables to houses, and I would hope that a distance of at least 500m would be enforced. (I stand to be corrected on this figure, but it is the distance that I think I remember being recommended for the LWP scheme).
Of course, if all the proposals are called in by the Government and then refused then it is all academic. Speaking recently to two people with differing views on the Eishken proposal, the supporter was worried about it being refused and the opponent was worried about it being approved. Whichever camp you are in, I am sure that you will agree that the community need decisions, and need them soon, to let us know just what is going to happen in Gravir.
Update 28/10: Last night I received a letter from SSE (addressed to Cllr Angus Nicolson!) inviting me to get more information about their proposals. I shall be taking them up on their offer, and will report back in due course.
I always knew that the infrastructure was going to be potentially much more difficult to sell to the public, compared to the turbines themselves. And we all know just how difficult that has proven to be.
Like many of my colleagues in the Council, I expected the cabling landing point to be at Arnish, where an existing power station could have been upgraded to manage the electricity flows on and off island.
The original proposals for the Eishken windfarm had pylons running from Pairc to Arnish, and the indicative schematics provoked a fair degree of shock at the time. The pylons were not part of the actual planning application, and consequently could not be brought into the equation when the decision to grant/refuse planning permission was being considered. I did warn at the time that the power connections were likely to prove unacceptable, and that was looking at what we thought would be the plan.
Having had a long hard look at what is being proposed, I cannot see how it can be accepted as it stands by the planners, the community or the Council, and I hope that some very serious modifications to the proposals are enforced and agreed before it comes up for a decision, but the track record is not good.
My most serious concern is the proximity of the cables to houses, and I would hope that a distance of at least 500m would be enforced. (I stand to be corrected on this figure, but it is the distance that I think I remember being recommended for the LWP scheme).
Of course, if all the proposals are called in by the Government and then refused then it is all academic. Speaking recently to two people with differing views on the Eishken proposal, the supporter was worried about it being refused and the opponent was worried about it being approved. Whichever camp you are in, I am sure that you will agree that the community need decisions, and need them soon, to let us know just what is going to happen in Gravir.
Update 28/10: Last night I received a letter from SSE (addressed to Cllr Angus Nicolson!) inviting me to get more information about their proposals. I shall be taking them up on their offer, and will report back in due course.
3 comments:
Unfortunately no-one in power gives a damn about us. The council has had ample opportunity through the pre-application consultations and is clearly happy with the proposals.
The SNP shamelessly lied when they campaigned on a 'listen to the community' ticket. Clearly what they omitted to mention was that this would not apply to the Harris and Lochs communities.
A.Allan sat through a recent public meeting with SHETL where feelings were clear, went home and hasn't been heard from again, despite promising to meet with residents again.
They have lost my vote and those of the people I know who voted SNP.
You see when you support massive windfarms for the good of the planet or the pockets of a few chosen cronies you ignored the fact that turbines have to be connected to something (unlike the ones on Arnish moor!). Plus the infrastructure, wires, aggregate, and other bobbins has to be dragged from somewhere. It won't be parachuted in from space and it can't be hidden behind a cloaking device. Also large organisations such as SHETL/SSE/BMP lie. Okay, they bend the rules to suit themselves and their own budgets. Plans get altered, things get moved when it comes to construction and things cost too much money when it comes to avoiding rural communities. And anyone who honestly thinks that community benefit will be derived from these schemes is living in cloud cuckoo land.
Take a walk to where they are proposing to site the converter station and see if you think that this is acceptable in a rural area.
And as 12.10am pointed out, our local politicians are about as useful as one legged men at an arse kicking contest. Beach Boy only spoke at that meeting when prompted and then said something that meant absolutely nothing. Perhaps SSE would like to meet with the local community again instead of buttering up 'councillors' and other parties that have hold of the rubber stamp...and the brown envelopes.
glad to hear you got a letter
no one down here has been provided that courtisy
where are our councillors now?
what about the Pairc Trust?
all remarkably quiet at this crucial stage in the process
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