Bookmark and Share
wpfb9b4c8d.png

 

 

Western Isles Priorities

Vision for the Future

We must seriously address our God-given responsibility to be good stewards of the resources available and in the context of inevitable fiscal restraint my priority will be to put our islands onto a self-sufficient and sustainable footing.

My belief is that the foundation of that footing is energy  - self-sufficiency in the first instance which can be achieved at community level and then exportation of that energy which would require a sub-sea link down the western seaboard (in addition to the one across the Minch). This sub-sea cable will allow us to link up with our Argyll and Irish neighbours into a European Energy Grid.

Innovative Action Now

There is also a need to work together on innovative and sustainable solutions to our everyday problems and to enhance our research and development capability to provide commercial viability.

As an example, one of my aspirations is to encourage the development of yacht marinas throughout the Hebrides. This would attract visiting sailors from outwith the islands and act as a gateway to the northern isles and even the Faroe isles. It would also provide work opportunities in the maintenance, storage and crewing of vessels. A number of years ago I helped Storas Uist to develop the Vision for the redevelopment of Lochboisdale Harbour which is now beginning to attract the necessary funding.

Local Issues

Work Opportunities

Chatting to people locally, the single biggest issue which has been raised by far is the lack of sustainable job opportunities.  This would be the main focus of my term in the Comhairle.

The lack of resources from Central Government and the increasing needs and demands of our communities will mean that there will be little scope to use conventional Capital and Revenue resources to stimulate economic activity.

The new Comhairle will have to work extremely hard to generate external funding and will have to develop a visionary economic policy encouraging enterprise, innovation and creativity without debt creation.

Sustainability

As island communities our forebears often knew the meaning of hardship but they also had a determined hardiness and resilience based on a strong bond of cooperation and support for the weak and vulnerable, founded on the principles of the word of God.

I would like the Comhairle to urgently consider encouraging today’s modern island communities to work together on initiatives for the marketing and distribution of local produce. Such initiatives would include the generation and sale of electricity to stimulate economic activity.  On a similar theme, I would advocate the acquisition of property in Stornoway Town centre for lease at attractive rates to encourage local commercial activity.

 

 

 

Murdo A Murray,  Independent

Steòrnabhagh a Tuath / Stornoway North

wpcb9fbfda.png