Hebrides News

 

Petition opposes building proposed electricity station on historic site   

16 February 2024

A petition has been launched by Stornoway Historical Society against a proposal to build a massive electricity sub-station at the historic site of the Lewis Chemical Works near Stornoway.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) are considering constructing a high voltage converter station as well as a substation plus associated buildings on moorland at Marybank to feed renewable energy from island windfarms to a 1.8GW subsea cable at Arnish for export under the Minch to mainland markets.

Overall, the SSEN compound could cover a sizeable area stretching around 600 metres by 300 metres - “right on top of the site of the Lewis Chemical Works, an important part of the history and heritage of Stornoway,” said the historical society.

The Marybank location is an important feature in Scotland’s industrial history, arising from the period when Sir James Matheson, then owner of Lewis, trialled a process to extract paraffin from peat on the Marybank moor in the 1850s.

Nearly 100 years before island homes received electricity and long before the discovery of North Sea oil, the extraction of oil substances from local peat was successful. Paraffin was in high demand to provide light from tilly lamps while the tar by-products was useful as anti-fouling coating for ships, roofing pitch and even sheep-dip.

Another distinctive aspect of the works saw railway tracks laid to haul peat.  

But the chemical works site will be destroyed if the SSE station proceeds in this spot warns the historical society.

The proximity of the site to houses in Marybank, not least to homes sandwiched between the facility and the Lochs Road concerns residents in the area.

Potential risks of pollution to the nearby River Creed and the threat on salmon and sea trout fisheries is of great concern highlights the Stornoway Angling Association.

Stornoway Historical Society said: “It is accepted that this structure is an essential component of the project to connect local on and off-shore wind farms to the proposed sub sea cable which will export the energy to mainland Scotland.

“Should the development go ahead in SSEN's chosen location, the historic Lewis Chemical Works site will be destroyed.  

“Public consultation took place some considerable time ago, the outcome being preference by SSEN for a site named as Creed North, located in close proximity to residences of Marybank community, to the River Creed

They add: “Sir James Matheson's Lewis Chemical Works feature in the Canmore website, and are the subject of past - and presumably future - archaeological research.  

“The massive planned structure will be equal to three times the area of the Western Isles Hospital site, with height equivalent to that of the Lewis War Memorial. “

The petition at www.change.org says: “It is important that the historical assets of our area are protected so that they may be studied, appreciated and enjoyed by present and future generations.  

“Local historians therefore seek your support in encouraging SSEN to find an alternative location for their HVDC converter station and sub-station.”

A SSE spokesperson said no final decision has been reached on the potential location for the electrical station.

“We are continuing to evaluate all options and consider the valuable feedback received from the local community groups, local residents, the Stornoway Trust and council representatives.

“We remain fully committed to engaging constructively with all stakeholders as we develop this project and would like to thank all those who have kindly taken their time to provide their feedback to date.”