Second go at island ballot is announced 22/9/14
► Windfarm cash frozen by community fund legal omission
A second attempt in running an election for a windfarm trust is to be staged.
Plans for an earlier ballot for the Western Isles Development Trust (WIDT) were abandoned due to a lack of interest from islanders.
The WIDT was set up by Western Isles Council to reinvest millions of millions of pounds worth of windfarm community benefit into economic, educational, environmental, cultural, social and recreational projects for the benefit of islanders.
Over time, if a subsea cable is installed, WIDT plans ot support community ownership of large scale renewable energy infrastructure with the objective of addressing fuel poverty through access to locally generated electricity.
At present, the WIDT is to receive payments from schemes like the Eishken windfarm in South Lochs and the Stornoway windfarm.
Plans for elections to its board in April were cancelled after only one islander applied to the body following a recruitment drive to try and boost its small membership.
Recently, another four people bid to join and their applications will go before the board for approval next Monday.
This means, the WIDT should have enough people onboard to elect new directors.
From the ordinary membership, four individuals, one each from Lewis, Harris, Uist
and Barra, will subsequently be elected onto the board.
If there is only one volunteer from each area there will be no election
The closing date for new members is Friday.
► Windfarm cash frozen by community fund legal omission