Concern over Bornish wind turbines 9/8/10
Sirs,
In response to your news article regarding the wind turbine project in Bornish I would like to take this opportunity to draw attention to the concerns of village residents in this issue.
This project has been ongoing, seemingly, for a number of years. Yet there have not been any discussion or township meetings where this issue was discussed despite the numerous opportunities to do so.
The residents of Bornish became aware of this issue when the council issued planning notification earlier this year that granted permission for Hebridean Energy (Calum Macmillan) to erect a wind turbine.
I suppose at that stage we thought this was another of Calum’s projects and would end up incomplete. For the past few months Calum, Westwind Turbines, MacAulay Askernish and Laing’s Lochboisdale have been particularly busy in preparing the croft for the installation of the turbines.
It was a bit of a shock to see four turbines delivered to the croft, with a fifth still to be delivered. At this stage the planning department was asked for clarification on this project.
It was then disclosed that Calum had secured permission for one 44 metre turbine which is almost in competition with the one in Liniclate. No permission was granted for any other turbines. SNH also confirmed that they had not been approached regarding another four turbines.
Storas Uibhist did not fully disclose information on this subject, which you would assume that there were some ongoing negotiations taking place at that time? Yet incredibly Calum and his contractor’s were still working feverishly to get the columns erected.
Objection to this activity was lodged and the council’s enforcement officer intervened with a letter issued from his department to Calum and other interested parties to cease work for an extended period.
This now leads you ask yourself where is honesty and integrity in dealing with projects like this which have a tremendous impact on others daily living and future opportunities for the generations to come.
Bornish has a problem with an unwanted proposed wind farm in amongst our homes. Who would be the beneficiaries of this project? Westwind who will have little feeling for croft or residents as they will be after profit, Calum, I assume, has the intention of making capital out of this to the detriment of his neighbours and wider community.
MacAulays and Laings I hope will be able to recover their outlay considering the ongoing inactivity in this project.
It’s sad there has been a lack of transparency and respect for the residents and location and I wonder how your readers would feel if one of your neighbours were to embark on such a project of this magnitude in their midst without due respect and responsibility to others.
If there is a need for such an enterprise then surely its right location is away from people’s homes developed in accordance with the proper procedures rather than leave a scar on the landscape whilst this mess is resolved.
Billy Doherty
Township Clerk
Bornish
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