Wind turbines owned by the crofting townships involved in a legal battle with Lewis Wind Power came a step closer to reality when Comhairle nan Eilean Siar awarded planning permission for the one proposed by Sandwick North Street.
The development is referred to as Beinn Bhuna, but is nearly 4km north-
At 145 metres high the machine is taller and of higher capacity than its would-
However, it sits on lower ground directly beneath Beinn Ghrideag so the height different is neligile from a distance.
The machine can only be built if the 36-
Council planners previously called for an environmental statement, saying the proposed development was considered likely to have a significant impact on the environment.
Rhoda Mackenzie, spokeswoman for Sandwick North, said they were “delighted” to be moving closer to the development of community turbines on the common grazings instead of corporate ones .
“Today, and the future, belongs to us,” she stated.
She said Lewis Wind Power and the Stornoway Trust should “step out of the way” and allow them to cross the finish line after failing to secure a government subsidy to offset the costs for the Stornoway windfarm.
Mrs Mackenzie said: “Our aim is not a selfish one to benefit our own crofting shareholders or even our own village. On the contrary, our aim is to use our grazings for the benefit of the whole of the community – that means the wider community too, throughout the Western Isles – along the same lines as the Point and Sandwick Trust.
“We believe today is a very significant step forward and we have a message for Lewis Wind Power, the Stornoway Trust, our MP and MSP and the ministers in both the Scottish and UK Governments.
“Our message is this: today is not just about one turbine. What we are fighting for
is the principle of community ownership and Lewis Wind Power and everyone else should
be in no doubt – we will defend this principle to the very end -
Mrs Mackenzie criticised the Stornoway Trust for giving a lease to Lewis Wind Power, saying there was no consultation with the grazings committees.
She maintained: “Nobody asked us if they could use our grazings for multinational turbines. Nobody wrote us a letter. Nobody gave us a phone call. Nobody even thought of telling us about it in the passing at Tesco’s. We were kept in the dark by the Stornoway Trust and then, when we did find out, we were told it was too late – it was a done deal and we couldn’t do anything about it.
“Even the worst private landlord would not dare to behave like that to their crofting tenants and it is simply shocking that the Stornoway Trustees not only signed that lease behind our backs but that they should continue to defend it to this day, an incredible 15 years later and with absolutely nothing to show for it.
“But we have stuck to our guns and are very pleased that our application for a community owned turbine on our grazings has at long last been approved by the planning board.”
Mrs Mackenzie added: “We are well aware of the difficulties surrounding the generation of more power on the islands, due to Ofgem’s statement that the conditions for the interconnector had not been met, but there is a viable ‘plan B’ which would involve an upgrade to the Skye cable. We believe community projects must be given priority space on such an upgraded cable and we would appeal to
The single 5MW Sandwick North machine would generate more than half the output of the three turbines at Beinn Ghrideag.
Community turbine approved on Stornoway wind farm site
30 October 2019