If one ever wishes to ascertain the depth of feeling regarding a particular local issue on Shetland one need look no farther than the letters page of the 'Shetland Times.' Normally it is one page covering a wide range of matters.
However the most recent edition (December 17th 2010) contains three packed pages. With one or two exceptions the letters concern just two topics.
One of these issues is the proposed closure of a local junior high school, the other relates to planning permission for a very large wind farm. Whilst the majority of the letters about the school closure are from people living within the school's catchment area, those concerning the wind farm are from many parts of Shetland. What is clear at a glance is that opinion on these aerogenerators is divided.
The Wind Farm Proposal
What is at stake is the proposal to build 127 aerogenerators each 145 metres tall on the tops of hills overlooking much of the Central Mainland of Shetland. Added to this is the need to link Shetland to Mainland Scotland with an undersea cable to carry the 457 megawatts to the United Kingdom's National Grid.
The company behind the project is Viking Energy. Their request for planning permission was debated in the council chambers during this past week. Despite a recommendation from the council's own planning department that permission be denied on environmental grounds, the elected members approved to proposal. The reason for this decision is financial. A seperate report indicated that the Shetland economy is set to gain in the order of £930 million over the 23 year life span of the project.
The Opposition to the Wind Farm from 'Sustainable Shetland'
The group opposing the project, 'Sustainable Shetland' intend to continue the fight. They feel the scale of the proposed development will do considerable damage to the scenic beauty of the islands both for residents and tourists alike. The construction work will necessitate the creation of 13 quarries and the building of over 100 kilometres of new road on top of virgin peat moor before work can commence on erecting the wind turbines.
This, they feel, is too high a price to pay. They are supported in their opposition by the John Muir Trust, an environmantal group. The issue is made all the more complex because the project is to be part funded by the Shetland Charitable Trust which oversees the use of a large fund generated from the oil industry. It was an agreement made when the Oil Terminal was constructed by BP at Sullom Voe. There is a concern because the Councillors who made the decision to go ahead with the wind farm are also trustees of the Charitable Trust which will benefit greatly from electricity revenue.
Next Steps for 'Sustainable Shetland'
Sustainable Shetland has indicated that they will report the elected members to the Standards Commission because of their perceived conflict of interest. It is also likely the planning application will be called in by the Scottish Parliament because one of the objectors is Scottish Natural Heritage.
Whatever the outcome, it is apparent that many more letters will be published on this topic in the Shetland Times before a final decision is made.
References:
'The Shetland Times', Friday 17th December 2010
