Latest news with #RobMcDonald
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Controversial Skye powerline revamp approved
Controversial plans to upgrade 99 miles (160km) of overhead powerline in the Highlands have been approved by the Scottish government. SSEN Transmission said its line from Ardmore, near Portree on Skye, to Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness was reaching the end of its operational life. The £480m revamp includes burying nine miles (15km) of cable underground to avoid spoiling views of Skye's Cuillin mountains. Highland Council objected to the project in 2023 because of concerns about the impact on other landscapes, while campaigners said they were "deeply disappointed" it had now been given the go-ahead. SSEN Transmission said the green light from the Scottish government, known as Section 37 consent, was the last hurdle in the planning process for its Skye Reinforcement project. The existing power line was constructed in three sections between 1956 and 1989. SSEN Transmission said the new line would have greater capacity and could take power from new renewable projects. Managing director Rob McDonald said: "The Skye Reinforcement project is crucial to maintaining local network reliability and will play an important role in helping the UK achieve its energy security and clean power ambitions. "This project and our wider investment programme will also be a major driver of jobs and economic growth locally and across the north of Scotland, bringing substantial opportunities for communities and businesses." The Scottish government said the replacement would lead to an increase in renewable energy provision, and protect the security of electricity supply to about 32,000 homes and businesses. More stories from the Highlands and Islands News from the Highlands and Islands on BBC Sounds But Skye Wind Farm Information Group said Highland Council's opposition to the revamp should have triggered a public inquiry. Spokesman Dr Andrew Robinson said: "Instead, planning consent has been given and the council's objection ignored. "This is a failure of democracy." The group said the project would require new electricity towers, and two "giant" substations at Edinbane and Broadford on Skye. It said large camps to house construction workers would also be created near Broadford. Dr Robinson added: "Other options to build a smaller scale line, replacing the existing infrastructure and allowing some extra capacity for smaller-scale, community-owned wind farms were never properly considered." He said the group might look into seeking a judicial review, a legal process where a judge looks at a decision made by a public body. Highland Council said it would not be appropriate for it to comment. Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston accused the Scottish government of "riding roughshod" over local democracy to meet renewables targets. SSEN Transmission said new steel electricity towers would be needed on about 68 miles (110km) of the route between Fort Augustus and Edinbane. Wooden poles would carry the line from Edinbane to Ardmore. SSEN Transmission - which is responsible for the electricity network in the north of Scotland - said an overhead line at Kylerhea in Skye, to the mainland would be replaced and closely follow the route of the existing overhead line. Substations at Broadford and Edinbane in Skye would be replaced. The Cuillins are one of the best-known mountain landscapes in Scotland. Its Cuillin Ridge is described in climbing as one of Europe's best mountaineering routes. It is seven miles (11km) long and its summits include 11 Munros - which are peaks over 914m (3,000ft). Power line to be buried to avoid spoiling views Planned £400m power line upgrade moves forward SSEN Transmission
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Controversial Skye to Fort Augustus powerline revamp approved
Controversial plans to upgrade 99 miles (160km) of overhead powerline in the Highlands have been approved by the Scottish Transmission said its line from Ardmore, near Portree on Skye, to Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness was reaching the end of its operational £480m revamp includes burying nine miles (15km) of cable underground to avoid spoiling views of Skye's Cuillin Council objected to the project in 2023 because of concerns about the impact on other landscapes, while campaigners said they were "deeply disappointed" it had now been given the go-ahead. SSEN Transmission said the green light from the Scottish government, known as Section 37 consent, was the last hurdle in the planning process for its Skye Reinforcement project. The existing power line was constructed in three sections between 1956 and Transmission said the new line would have greater capacity and could take power from new renewable director Rob McDonald said: "The Skye Reinforcement project is crucial to maintaining local network reliability and will play an important role in helping the UK achieve its energy security and clean power ambitions."This project and our wider investment programme will also be a major driver of jobs and economic growth locally and across the north of Scotland, bringing substantial opportunities for communities and businesses."The Scottish government said the replacement would lead to an increase in renewable energy provision, and protect the security of electricity supply to about 32,000 homes and businesses. But Skye Wind Farm Information Group said Highland Council's opposition to the revamp should have triggered a public Dr Andrew Robinson said: "Instead, planning consent has been given and the council's objection ignored. "This is a failure of democracy."The group said the project would require new electricity towers, and two "giant" substations at Edinbane and Broadford on said large camps to house construction workers would also be created near Robinson added: "Other options to build a smaller scale line, replacing the existing infrastructure and allowing some extra capacity for smaller-scale, community-owned wind farms were never properly considered."He said the group might look into seeking a judicial review, a legal process where a judge looks at a decision made by a public Council said it would not be appropriate for it to and Islands Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston accused the Scottish government of "riding roughshod" over local democracy to meet renewables targets. SSEN Transmission said new steel electricity towers would be needed on about 68 miles (110km) of the route between Fort Augustus and poles would carry the line from Edinbane to Transmission - which is responsible for the electricity network in the north of Scotland - said an overhead line at Kylerhea in Skye, to the mainland would be replaced and closely follow the route of the existing overhead at Broadford and Edinbane in Skye would be Cuillins are one of the best-known mountain landscapes in Cuillin Ridge is described in climbing as one of Europe's best mountaineering is seven miles (11km) long and its summits include 11 Munros - which are peaks over 914m (3,000ft).
The National
09-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Skye power line approved despite council and resident objections
SSEN's "Skye reinforcement" project seeks to replace the existing, single circuit overhead line which is reaching the end of its operational life, according to the company. SSEN has said the line needs to be strengthened to maintain electricity to homes and businesses in Skye and the Western Isles, as well as renewable energy developments which are set to rely on the new line to carry electricity into the national grid. READ MORE: Zonal pricing could save Scottish glass sector £20 million, report says However, campaigners have said extensive surveys were carried out on SSEN's "preferred route" and no others without informing communities. It has also renewed calls against a large camp for up to 350 workers which will move to the Skye during the construction of the new electricity line, adding to the population of the town of around 1000 people for an estimated five years. Food and facilities company Sodexo is seeking permission from Highland Council for a camp for SSEN workers in Broadford, Skye. To meet the required increased capacity of the replacement line, steel structures will be required from Fort Augustus to Edinbane, extending the existing steel structures where they currently terminate at Broadford; with wooden poles remaining from Edinbane to Ardmore. Around 15km of the circuit will be undergrounded as it passes the Cuillin Hills and another 9km where it connects to Fort Augustus substation. The planning submission was submitted to the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit in September 2022. Rob McDonald, managing director of SSEN Transmission, said: 'We welcome this positive decision. The Skye reinforcement project is crucial to maintaining local network reliability and will play an important role in helping the UK achieve its energy security and clean power ambitions. 'This project and our wider investment programme will also be a major driver of jobs and economic growth locally and across the north of Scotland, bringing substantial opportunities for communities and businesses. 'We trust that the Scottish Government's new guidance, setting out a 52-week determination period, will see future projects progress in line with the acceleration needed to achieve the country's clean power mission. "As we now move to the delivery phase of the project, we are committed to working constructively with local communities and businesses to minimise and mitigate construction impacts, alongside maximising the economic, infrastructure and job opportunities this investment will bring." The Skye Wind Farm Information Group said they were "deeply disappointed" to learn that the Scottish Government granted planning permission, with Dr Andrew Robinson stating: 'The Highland Council objected to the plans in November 2023. As the local planning authority, such an objection would normally trigger a public inquiry, but, instead planning consent has been given and the council's objection ignored. This is a failure of democracy." A second camp has also been proposed by Balfor Beauly. It is believed the accommodation could see another 350/400 people in the town. READ MORE: Views sought on plans for major renewable 'energy park' in Perthshire Robinson added: "The power line brings with it pylons, quarries, trenches and giant substations at Edinbane and Broadford. The two workers camps proposed either side of Broadford village, housing up to 800 workers are only needed to build the power line and the substations. "These should have been included in the original planning paperwork for the OHL but instead have been salami sliced into separate applications. "Whilst SSEN told us the existing line is old and needs replacing, their new power line will be much larger, at a size only necessary to take the electricity from all the wind farms proposed for Skye. "Other options to build a smaller scale line, replacing the existing infrastructure and allowing some extra capacity for smaller scale community owned wind farms were never properly considered. "This decision today could be seen as a presumption from the Scottish Government that all the wind farms proposed for Skye will be built.'
Evening Standard
05-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Evening Standard
Best Manchester United kits: A nostalgic journey for football fans
The '70s and '80s were a period perhaps not too dissimilar to the lull United are experiencing now, and trophies were few and far between. Made by classic kit makers, Admiral, the away kit during the latter half of the '70s had the swagger that might have been missing on the pitch. The graphic stripes down the front of the shirt and on the cuffs and collar are a striking addition. According to Rob McDonald, co-author of Admiral: 50 Years of the Replica Shirt, the away kit was 'said to have been revved up a little to reflect [manager Tommy] Docherty's adventurous style of play. An original will set you back upwards of £450, but fortunately Toffs make this more budget-friendly replica.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
AMR just short of Multnomah County's compliance standards after new ambulance model
PORTLAND, Ore. () – It's been seven months since Multnomah County commissioners approved key staffing changes to AMR's ambulances, to address in the area. Last summer, the county settled its dispute with AMR. By August 15, to allow some ambulances to operate with one paramedic and one EMT, instead of requiring all of them to have two paramedics. New law restricts out-of-state armed forces from WA The move aimed to ease the impact of a national paramedic shortage and improve response times. Since then, AMR has hired over 45 new paramedics, with with anticipated graduation dates in 2025 and early 2026. AMR is also implementing a new program to bring the BIPOC community into a career in EMS. They're offering 8 diversity scholarships in 2025 that will support communities of color with fully paid tuition for both EMT and paramedic school and guaranteed jobs when they graduate. But despite these efforts, the county says AMR still hasn't met the 90% response time requirement in any month. AMR says it's meeting 15 out of 16 compliance metrics — with response time being the only one still falling short. 'Currently we sit at 88% and change,' said Rob McDonald, AMR's regional manager for Oregon. 'What we know in our industry is making up 27% is difficult, but what we also know is making up the last 2% is also difficult. We're pretty confident that all data points to we should have this thing done.' At its worst, AMR was only reaching 911 calls . Some weeks, there were 20 to 30 hours where no ambulances were available — a situation known as 'Level 0.' Look up! Lyrid meteor shower to peak over Portland In recent months, that's changed. Level 0 time is now down to just minutes per week, and in late March, it was eliminated entirely. 'We now have the power to mitigate burnout and fatigue,' McDonald said At its worst crews were running 10-12 calls in a 12-hour period. That's now dropped down to 5-7 calls, which AMR said is a much more manageable workload for their employees. 'We're encouraged by the upward trend by AMR, however AMR hasn't quite reached response time compliance,' said Dr. Richard Bruno, Multnomah County Health Officer. 'While this is a bridge to meet those response times, it's also a bridge time for AMR to grow their workforce and get back to their core contract.' What Dr. Bruno means by that is that allowing the hybrid model is only meant to be temporary until the paramedic shortage in the country and county eases. AMR has accrued $8 million in fines for missing performance targets — none of which have been paid yet. They can reduce that amount, but only if they meet all compliance metrics, including the 90% response time. The next official update is set for August, when the county will review year-over-year progress. At that point, they'll have to decide whether to continue, modify or terminate the settlement agreement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
