Latest news with #SkyeWindfarmInformationGroup
The National
34 minutes ago
- Politics
- The National
Holyrood is a glorified council firmly under Westminster's thumb
On August 12, the second Community Council Convention on the Impact of Major Energy Infrastructure took place in Inverness. It was attended by more than 60 community councils representing more than 80,000 people all over the Highlands. Eleven MSPs and MPs from all political parties took part and signed a communique to 'value local democracy' and to try and secure urgent debates in Holyrood and Westminster. READ MORE: Coul Links plans in doubt as new report calls for 'outright rejection' Tor Klein from the Skye Windfarm Information Group was shocked to learn from the politicians that 'there is no plan, there never was a plan, there's no current plan and they [the Scottish Government] are not working on a plan.' It's not shocking because there's no direct democracy in Scotland. Holyrood is a glorified, highly centralised council firmly under Westminster's thumb. It calls itself a government but has none of the powers of a real government. The important stuff is managed for us by a bunch of people down in London who don't give a toss about Scotland. Westminster's decision to privatise Scotland's energy resources and control energy policy mean we have no say over nor receive any benefit from one of our greatest natural assets. It's why our land is blighted and we're forced to live with the perversity of paying some of the highest energy bills in the failing UK. READ MORE: Why I'm walking the West Highland Way for the 100th time Our glorified council is content to stay in its devolved playpen pretending to be a government. Once, Scottish politicians at least made the right noises. On January 26, 2012, Holyrood passed a motion acknowledging 'the sovereign right of the Scottish people to determine the form of government best suited to their needs.' On July 4, 2018, Westminster followed suit. Politicians will act for the people only when the people force them to. If all the millions of angry citizens and groups in Scotland today demanded their right to self-determination, we'd be well on our way out of this cesspool of a union. We need the tools of decentralised direct democracy – referendums and popular initiatives – to force the politicians to listen to us. That's why PE2135, to incorporate the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights into Scots law, is vital. Please sign and share it to invert the power pyramid and put the Scottish people where they belong – back on top. Leah Gunn Barrett Edinburgh READ MORE: Highland community councillors are angry, united and very vocal WITH the UK Government's costly military spending plans revealed, including new nuclear submarines (while some of the old ones lie rusting), radioactive incidents can and do happen at Faslane. Furthermore Britain is to buy from America aircraft that can carry nuclear bombs. These deadly military items are apparently for Nato, but still require US permission. It is ridiculous that we have to pay to house these weapons over which we have little control! READ MORE: MoD claims Faslane radioactive leak 'posed no risk to public' We are now remembering that in August 1945 America dropped atomic bombs on two Japanese cities, killing around 200,000 people. However today's nuclear hydrogen power presents even a greater danger to humanity and all life on earth, especially with world leaders like Trump and Putin in charge. In truth, Westminster cash has always been available for nuclear weapons, with less or none for the poor, disadvantaged and disabled. In this post-imperial false super power status, the UK's supposedly independent nuclear deterrent remains a hugely expensive joke. A fully independent Scotland would remove all weapons of mass destruction from Faslane and the huge cash saving would be channelled into the NHS and other public services. Grant Frazer Newtonmore AS I sat in the pub watching Putin arriving in Alaska on TV, it was clear who was the boss. Trump appeared to approach Putin, as he got off the plane, with a submissive display towards him. Many assume he is Trump's real boss, not the MAGA movement or the Republican Party. Putin looked to be in control of the situation, with Trump displaying deference to the Russian on his arrival on US territory. Trump almost genuflected before the visitor. READ MORE: Europe speaks with Donald Trump after Ukraine ceasefire talks From what I saw, Ukrainians should be worried. Not only them but other Europeans. Trump appears to bow the knee to Russia without reference to the USA'S supposed allies in Europe. Most European governments seem aware of Putin's attempt to resurrect the Czarist empire apart from one, the UK Government, whose foreign policy seems to be to ingratiate itself to Trump, regardless of the outcome elsewhere. Its deference to the US mirrors Trump's deference to Russia. Drew Reid Falkirk
The Herald Scotland
22-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Windfarm campaign calls for planning inquiry on Skye
Just over a week ago major new grid infrastructure, the Skye overhead replacement line, was approved by the Scottish Government. These developments, said Andrew Robinson, a spokesperson for Skye Windfarm Information Group, said could 'massively change Skye's landscape and cause untold damage both to the local environment, and to tourism, the island's key industry". 'The Scottish Government,' he said, 'have the power to initiate planning inquiry commissions. These are when you look at a big, strategic plan. Three times we've written to Gillian Martin, the energy minister, to say that we think on Skye because of its unique nature they should have a planning inquiry commission to look at what it's appropriate to build here. But they refused that. They just said that the existing planning process is enough.' Skye, one of Scotland's top tourist destinations, currently has two windfarms, but there are a further eight at various stages of planning and scoping. These include Edinbane, Ben Aketil, Glen Ullinish, Glen Ullinish II, Ben Sca, Balmeanach and Breakish. One of these applications, for an extension at Ben Aketil, in which nine turbine will be removed and substituted with 200m high replacements, is now at the desk of the Scottish Government reporter following an objection by the Highland Council, and will be the subject of a local public inquiry on the island this week. Scottish Windfarm Information Group campaigners (Image: Vicky Allan) In a previous letter to the Scottish Government, Robinson said: 'There is an urgent need to take a strategic look at all of the plans proposed for Skye. At present residents are overwhelmed by the individual planning applications they face, and may wish to object to. 'The paperwork for each application is huge. Communities are expected to comment and respond to each application yet we have no resources. The developers, usually funded by overseas private equity companies, have access to consultants, PR and marketing experts and endless legal and planning advice. 'The proposed plans will be overwhelming. They can not be justified on basis of need as Scotland stands to more than meet its renewable energy targets if the current consented wind farms across the country are built. The plans will cause untold destruction to Skye's fragile and beautiful habitat.' Read more: A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Ministerial powers to refer certain planning questions to a Planning Inquiry Commission apply to cases where there are considerations of national or regional importance and a proper evaluation of them cannot be made unless there is a special inquiry for the purpose; and that the technical or scientific aspects of the proposed development are of so unfamiliar a character as to jeopardise a proper determination of that question unless there is a special inquiry for the purpose. 'There are however existing and well-established consenting procedures for renewable and grid infrastructure, including for the consideration of any cumulative impacts arising. Therefore, we have no plans to constitute a Planning Inquiry Commission. 'The Scottish Government has an ambition, as set out in our Onshore Wind Policy Statement, for 20GW of Onshore Wind by 2030 and we are working with the onshore wind industry to ensure that the delivery of this ambition supports our regional and national economies, communities and nature. The UK Government's Clean Power Action Plan respects the Scottish Government's onshore wind ambitions for 2030.'
The Herald Scotland
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Why I visited Skye to cover wind farm controversies
The island, in other words, is the current centre of an increasingly heated debate taking place across many areas of rural Scotland over the planning and consenting process for clean energy infrastructure. Skye, host to three million visitors each year, is the target home of eight proposed windfarms at various stages of planning, some of them repowering older sites and replacing smaller turbines for those twice their size. It is also to see an expansion of powerlines and other associated energy infrastructure. I write about climate and environment and I've no doubt that Scotland absolutely does need to push forward on the path to Net Zero to do our fair share in trying to halt climate breakdown. But it's also important to me that we tell the stories and reactions of people and communities on the ground, look at the issues they are raising and listen to their views on strategy, policy and the sector which transforming their environment even as it decarbonises the grid and seeks financial profit. Wherever we live in Scotland, we do need to get our heads around the rapid roll out of infrastructure set to take place over the coming years. And aside from those involved in working within the sector, the people who are looking at it most closely are those who live right next to the new wave of wind turbines, substations, battery parks and powerlines. Often, I found, when I visited Skye earlier this month, those pushing back against onshore wind, considered themselves quite green – vegans, wildlife lovers, followers of relatively low-impact lifestyles. Among them is Andrew Robinson, a spokesperson for Skye Windfarm Information Group (SWIG), who lives in an off-grid cottage in the north of Skye, powered by solar panels and heated by a woodburner, increasingly surrounded by wind turbines. When, last week, it was announced that the Scottish Government had granted planning permission for the Skye Reinforcement Overhead Line, he was not celebrating. The 1,500-member Skye Wind Farm Information Group, expressed their disappointment Robinson described it as a 'failure of democracy', saying: '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.' SWIG noted that residents noted that a powerline of such a scale would only be required and consented to if more windfarms were planned on the island. READ MORE: 'This decision today,' suggested Robinson, 'could be seen as a presumption from the Scottish Government that all the wind farms proposed for Skye will be built.' Next week will see a public inquiry into one of those proposed windfarms, near Dunvegan on Skye, where developer Nadara has proposed removing 12 turbines at Ben Aketil Wind Farm and replacing them with nine new ones, along with a battery storage scheme. Other wind farms have been rejected by councils and gone through the process. Some have had permission accepted, others have been refused. Still more are yet to come – including a giant wind farm near Hawick, as wells as Hill of Fare wind farm in Aberdeenshire. Winds of change on Skye wind farm controversy (Image: Derek McArthur) Many across Scotland will be watching. The level of concern across the Highlands over clean energy infrastructure was demonstrated just last weekend, by a large turn out for a public meeting in Beauly's Phipps Hall. 53 Community Councils representing over 72,000 residents across the Highlands expressed unanimous support for a joint statement calling for a pause in the wave of major energy infrastructure developments. The Ben Aketil public inquiry is about this one wind farm and the impact it will have on the island and its landscape, but campaigners raised wider issues with me. How many more onshore windfarms do we need to decarbonise our energy system? Why are particular areas carrying so much of the change? Are demand, grid capacity and generation all rising in concert? And are campaigners right to point out, as some do, that Scotland already has sufficient onshore in the pipeline and little more is needed? Are they justified in calling for a more 'considered' approach to consent? Or does Scotland still need to push forward with greater urgency? Are these wind farm and pylon objectors in danger of stalling vital progress towards Net Zero and a decarbonised grid? You can read my articles on the application and surrounding issues in the Herald this Sunday and next week when we will be live-blogging from the inquiry.
