Labour back Barra campaign over conservation designations 7/2/12
The Western Isles Labour Party has expressed its support for the campaign against designating the Sound of Barra as a Special Area of Conservation.
It says the plans would be devastating for the local economy and has challenged Angus MacNeil and Alasdair Allan as to their role in suppressing the full extent of the proposals.
The Barra campaign group is holding a protest outside the Scottish Parliament against the designations this week ahead of a Parliamentary debate that is attracting cross party support.
Donald Lamont, secretary of the Western Isles Labour Party said: " We want to express our support to SHAMED for their dedicated and relentless campaign in the face of an environmental body bent on imposing designations that would have devastating implications for the local economy.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with them against a Government driving these designations through and local political representatives mute in fear of offending their political masters."
Former Labour candidate Donald Crichton said: " While the spotlight falls on SNH and the Government this week it mustn't be forgotten that campaigners were rightly furious when they learned that Angus Macneil and Alasdair Allan were informed as far back as March 2010 of moves for further designations yet failed to inform the community or act upon it.
“If Mr Allan is so opposed to his government's policy on the Barra SAC why does he
remain a member of it? He must make up his mind who he is to serve -