BREAKING NEWS
The planning committee of CNES has recommeded approval of the revised 26 turbine 94MW Pairc Windfarm. on Pairc Estate in south east Lewis. The committee also approved the application for a community windfarm at Shawbost.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Environmental Services Committee has approved construction of the converter station and pavement at Gravir, South Lochs and recommended approval of the sub-sea cable from the Scottish mainland. The application will go before the full council this week.
21 April 2009 |
LIVE CONSULTATIONS
Recent media coverage
Also see the Archive pages - left menu
April 21 2009
Councillors back £108 million giant wind farm for Pairc
Council takes “absolutely no notice of public opinion” (Letter)
Councillors back controversial Pairc wind farm
Councillors poised to approve giant SSE wind farm for South Lochs
Islanders "scunnered by Mather's dithering” claims Macsween
Windfarm bid may get go-ahead
Windfarm Proposal (Letter)
April 20 2009
Council planning officials back Pairc wind farm
Letter re opposition to Lewis windfarms
April 17 2009
Western Isles loses out on large offshore wind farm
April 16 2009
Western Isles can reap renewables benefits says Scottish Government
Council waits in vain for Eishken wind farm statement
Trust urges Government to reject Eishken windfarm
Mather urged to reject windfarm
Trust uses stones in bid to derail isle's wind farm
Minister provokes nuclear war over Scotland's energy future
April 5 2009
Eishken windfarm could threaten prehistoric landscape
Wind farm threat looms over ancient Lewis stones
February 10 2009
Gravir convertor station gets planning permission
Gravir residents opposed to convertor station
February 06 2009
Energy firm reduces proposal for wind farm from 125 turbines to 26
February 05 2009
Amended design for Pairc wind farm
SSE hopes council will support wind farm redesign
February 04 2009
New bid for planning permission for Pairc windfarm
February 03 2009
MWT criticises Governement’s windfarm energy study
January 31 2009
Report supports Western Isles wind energy moves
Wind power 'key' benefit to isles
Green power ‘lifeblood for isles’
Benefits of wind energy are mapped out
Isles can benefit from renewables
January 30 2009
Renewables development in the Western Isles - Scottish Government Press Release
The report:
Government previously opposed sites it now proposes
Map of possible wind farm areas
Macsween slams Mather energy report
Government unveils renewable energy report for Western Isles
Council wants positive action to build giant windfarm on Lewis
January 22 2009
Go-ahead for energy wave station in Western Isles
Wave farm in Lewis could create 70 jobs
RSPB congratulates community group on energy scheme
Politicians welcome island wave-power scheme
Council welcomes wave power project
Older news items relating to all windfarm developments on the Outer Hebrides are to be found in the Archive pages
ROUND-UP (UPDATED 21/04/2009)
PAIRC WINDFARM, PAIRC ESTATE
Scottish and Southern Energy submitted an ammended application to build a 26 turbine (94 MW) windfarm on Pairc Estate in Feb 2009. This application was recommended for approval by the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar planning committee on 21 April 2009.
A previous application by SSE PLC to build a 205MW windfarm on Pairc Estate, Isle of Lewis, was put before Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in 2007. It was decided to recommend that the Scottish Ministers approve only 26 of turbines.
WESTERN ISLES TRANSMISSION SYSTEM UPGRADES
Scottish and Southern Energy have submitted their planning application to build the transmission line between Gravir and Beauly.
Associated applications which are at various stages in the planning process include: Converter Station at Gravir (undergoing consented by CNES), pavement to avoid works traffic in Gravir (consented), overhead transmission lines between Gravir and Stornoway (scoping).
Gravir Converter Station - consented (Feb 10 2009).
MUAITHEABHAL WINDFARM, EISHKEN ESTATE (Important Bird Area UK244) An Inquiry to examine the impact of the Muaitheabhal Windfarm on the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area was held Caladh Inn, James Street Stornoway Isle of Lewis between the 13th and 27 of May 2008. The Reporter was expected to publish her recommendation in autumn 2008, however as at February 2009 no announcment has been made.
Closing Submissions were be published on the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar website as submitted:
FEIRIOSBHAL WINDFARM, EISHKEN ESTATE (Important Bird Area UK244) Section 75 agreements required to allow the Feiriosbhal windfarm to proceed have now been concluded - see below for media coverage. Previously the Environment and Protective Services Committee of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar decided to approve 13 of the 16 turbines in the north east sector of the BMP Ltd application on the Eishken Estate in south east Lewis. The Scottish government
announced that they would not be calling in the application, leaving the Local authority to proceed with the consents procedure.
LEWIS WINDFARM, BARVAS MOOR (Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area) - REFUSED 2008
|
PUBLICATIONS
January 30 2009 - The Scottish Government report on the development of renewable energy on the Western Isles has been published
October 2007 - The Scottish national campaign group Views of Scotland have published two reports on the Lewis windfarms for the SNP Conference.
"Carbon savings and wind power on Lewis" provides an analysis of the CO2 emissions that could be offset by the schemes, from the developers claims through to scenarios taking account of potential CO2 emissions from degraded peat disturbed by the developments.
"Public attitudes to wind power on Lewis" brings together the results of the measures of public opinion which have been undertaken on the island from the first survey by the North Lewis windfarm Survey Group to the recent Pairc Community Council Ballot, as well as the number of objections to each proposal.
MWT would like to express our thanks to Views of Scotland for their support !
CAMPAIGN INFORMATION DOWNLOADS
No windfarctory on Lewis!
ABOUT US
We are Lewis residents, who are alarmed and concerned at the various proposed windfarm developments for our island. Our concerns are:
- a lack of public discussion on these developments;
- the failure to ascertain the views of the people who are most affected;
- the visual impact ;
- Environmental - irreversible damage to blanket bog, adverse affects to bird habitat and life,
effects on natural water channels, rivers and lochans;
- Adverse affect on crofting, tourism and our way of life;
- Encroachment on a SPA (Special Protection Area) which has been designated by Europe
and which should be protected, and on the habitats of species protected under European law.
- that a public resource can be used so readily by a private company to make profit
- Disregard for the natural heritage of our island
- Lack of a coherent renewable energy policy for these islands from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the
local authority
We began with informal meetings in each others homes, progressed onto more public meetings and have now galvanised ourselves into a formal opposition group to the inappropriate developments that are being proposed for Lewis. We have a steering group, a number of sub-groups and an increasing number of people who subscribe to our aims and whom we regularly keep in contact with via email and telephone. If you would like to join this list, please go to the contact section. We welcome everybody who shares our aims to join and support our effort.
Our Aims
(a) “To protect the Lewis landscape, its people and economy against inappropriate industrial developments, such as the currently proposed windfarm schemes; and to oppose the pylon-isation of the Highlands and Islands.
(b) To be a small active group that encourages, supports and mobilises the wider population in opposition of inappropriate developments.
(c) To liaise with all interested parties in relation to (a) & (b) above
How to help
MWT has now been existence for over 4 years - During this time many hundreds of hours have been spent undertaking research, preparing information, printing, copying videos, delivering literally thousands of information leaflets and objection letters accross the island, organising meetings .. the list is endless.
We have only been able to acheive this through the dedication of volunteers willing to give their time, energy and skills. The costs of the campaign over 4 years have been met purely by donations, often small, a pound or two, for which we are extremely grateful.
Please help us continue to fight for the Lewis Moorland and its people.
We have a bank account in the name of “Mòinteach gun Mhuileann” with the Clydesdale Bank, Stornoway branch, Sort Code: 82-69-25, Account: 90048349……….
A standing order form is also available (in PDF format) here. MGM-SO.pdf
We can now accept donations via Paypal. Please send these from your Paypal account to: mwt@semantise.com.
Any amount would be gratefully appreciated. Mòran taing. Thank you.
Contact us
MWT,1 North Bragar, Isle of Lewis, HS2 9DA
|