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Public Meetings to Discuss Tiree Off-Shore Windfarm |
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Friday, 20 February 2009 |
Tiree Trust held an initial meeting with two representatives of Scottish Power Renewables (SPR) on Wednesday night and asked them to come to the Island to explain to everyone what their plans and hopes are.
They will present a public question and answer session in the main hall at An Talla on Monday 9th March at 7.30pm.
They will also be available for one-to-one discussion in the small hall at An Talla the following morning from 9.00am until about 11.00am.
They will return on 21st March and will have a stall at the Community Open day, again on a drop-in basis. Everyone is welcome to attend these sessions and put any questions to the SPR staff.
In our initial discussion with SPR the Trust is led to believe the following:
- SPR do not yet have the right to develop the site
- A year-long independent strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of all ten Scottish off-shore sites is being conducted by the Scottish Government. No development can start without a green light from this assessment.
- If the SEA indicates that development could take place in the Tiree/Skerryvore site, SPR will start its own detailed survey, including geo-physical, meteorological, bio-diversity, and economic research. This could take another 2 or 3 years.
- At the end of the survey phase SPR will decide if it wants to go ahead with the development phase. If it does, the development phase will last 6 to 10 years. The turbines will be very big (about twice the height of the Ruaig turbine and Skerryvore lighthouse to hub height) and spaced about 1km apart roughly on a grid pattern. They will be visible in many weather conditions, but should not be audible from Tiree. No turbine will be closer than 5km to the Island.
- The operation phase would last 30 – 50 years. The Tiree community would receive a significant payment each year from the windfarm.
The Trust will maintain regular contact with SPR. At this stage the Trust is not in favour of the off-shore wind farm or against it. The Trust will take directions from the Tiree Community and act accordingly. Please do not hesitate to let Trust Directors or Trust staff know your opinions about this potentially huge project. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 20 February 2009 )
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