tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post2103124235506363651..comments2023-10-16T08:37:22.742+00:00Comments on An incredulous eye on the isles: What Jim Mather is saying....ElectricCrofterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09495260997875836669noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-21881612019010719342008-03-17T20:27:00.000+00:002008-03-17T20:27:00.000+00:00where you there Angus?Any backroom gossip?where you there Angus?<BR/><BR/>Any backroom gossip?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-49192923563117377572008-03-17T12:27:00.000+00:002008-03-17T12:27:00.000+00:00This minority government will not make any content...This minority government will not make any contentious decisions until they have a majority. So my money is on a 2010 election (after Salmon0 has found a fight with Westminster that he can win and unite the Clans). Then to finance his budget based on Independance and no hand outs from South of the Border he will plant turbines from The Butt of Lewis to Berwick.<BR/><BR/>By the way Angus last Monday you published a nice shiny cup glotting over a rubbish game of rugby where is it now covered in pasta? How about a picture of a half share in a wooden spoon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-24628022350978522482008-03-17T11:48:00.000+00:002008-03-17T11:48:00.000+00:00It is all very vague - and I suspect deliberately ...It is all very vague - and I suspect deliberately so to give the Minister and the Government maximum wiggle room.Angushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06819249125186554637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-1107435026417353002008-03-17T11:24:00.000+00:002008-03-17T11:24:00.000+00:00I'm a bit confused (maybe me thick?) on a few poin...I'm a bit confused (maybe me thick?) on a few points:<BR/><BR/><I>a study of how renewable energy and other projects</I><BR/><BR/>Does this mean energy projects that are not renewables? Or non-energy projects? Related to this...<BR/><BR/><I>And on a similar basis, to identify other opportunities for sustainable development initiatives at different scales which might contribute to delivering economic and community benefit compatible with environmental obligations.</I><BR/><BR/>If that's not just confined to energy-related stuff (still unclear), then that's ... everything socio-economic connected with the Outer Hebrides. Which will make for a lot of study in 6 months. <BR/><BR/>On the energy front (renewables or not) I hope that:<BR/>- geothermal and ground source heat pumps<BR/>- solar<BR/>- photovoltaic<BR/>- properly insulating buildings<BR/>- tidal and wave<BR/>...all get due consideration. The way that the UK energy "debate" has been absurdly simplified to a binary windfarm or nuclear option over the last few years is depressing.<BR/><BR/>If they're going beyond energy in terms of sustainable stuff, then study of the net-based economy especially is very much overdue. Apart from a few shining exceptions (mainly in smoked salmon, lamb and black pudding), Outer Hebrides businesses are generally selling online and "exporting" (over the Minch) only a fraction of what they could and should. There's a massive untapped potential which would lead to <B>lots of local jobs</B>.<BR/><BR/>Add to that the knowledge economy, teleworking, and emerging digital industries, in which many of the 16 to 24 year old Outer Hebrides generation are acquiring skills at college and university. My client in California doesn't give a damn where I live, so long as I get the work (online) done; so why not live and work in the Outer Hebrides...Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02193076122436074948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-38303671339105068262008-03-17T11:09:00.000+00:002008-03-17T11:09:00.000+00:00It said: "The study will not consider individual p...It said: "The study will <I>not</I> consider individual planning applications nor site specific proposals". All the matters contained in the study should already have been considered in the planning application. Personally, I see no reason why a decision would have to be put off for a further 6 to 9 months. But I'm not the minister.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com