Councillor A Macdonald

Information from Councillor A Macdonald will appear on this page.

Contact details:

Councillor A MacDonald, 18 Laxay Lochs

Phone:: 01851 830248 (Home)
Mobile: 07717 816453
Email: annie.macdonald@cne-siar.gov.uk

Newsletter July 2007

July Newsletter

SGIR' UIGE AGUS CEANN A TUATH NAN LOCH

Kinloch and North Lochs Community Council Area Newsletter.

Dear Resident

As you may be aware Scottish and Southern Energy have submitted a planning application for a windfarm in the Pairc Area, and as such community councils in the areas would like to know what the feelings of the public are about this application. There is a workshop to be held on 9^th July at Balallan Hall, and it would be good if you would be able to attend at some point during the day.

I will also be in attendance at this meeting, and holding a ward surgery.Annie Macdonald

PAIRC WINDFARM APPLICATION

Public Workshop

There will be a Public workshop held on 9^th July 2007 between 3pm and 8pm in Balallan Hall. This workshop has been set up jointly by North Lochs and Kinloch Community Councils, to give everyone the opportunity to see for themselves the photomontages and all relevant documentation about the windfarm project, together with the opportunity to discuss any relevant issues. This will assist the Community Councils in forming an opinion on the project.

This informal workshop is an opportunity to enable all members of the public in Kinloch, North Lochs and beyond to engage with:

· Scottish and Southern Energy

· The consultants who wrote the Environmental Impact Assessment.

· Planning Officers from the Comhairle will be available for discussion between 3 and 6pm.

· Representatives from the community.

It would also be prudent for all persons who have an interest in this project to write to the relevant community council and the Scottish Executive to inform them of their views.Ward Surgery

Cllr Annie Macdonald will also be holding a surgery in Balallan Hall at the same time as the Public Workshop.

Walk in exhibitions were held at Cearsiadair and Lacasaidh on 14^th and 15^th May. About 130 people came to look, speak to SSE representatives and express their opinions. About 55 people wrote in the comments book.

SSE made a formal application to the Scottish Executive on 1^st June 2007. Copies of the application and Environmental Statement will be available locally, at Laxay Post Office, Kinloch Community and North Lochs Community Council, all Pairc Grazing Clerks and also the Pairc Trust. Copies will also be available at Stornoway Public Library and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar offices, along with instructions on how members of the public can write to the Scottish Executive expressing their opinion of the proposals

The non-technical summary is now available on the website: www. Scottish-southern.co.uk - follow the links through media centre, project news to Pairc windfarm.

Other agencies, such as SNH and SEPA, will also review the application at this time. The Comhairle will then review all the information, including representations from the public, before reaching a position on the application which will be reported back to the Scottish Executive to issue a decision. This could happen later this year.

Cllr Annie Macdonald requested an extension to the time period for public responses. Scottish and Southern have spoken to both the Scottish Executive and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for advice and have stated: “ Whilst there is a formal 28 day period, in practice late representations are taken into account. The only exception is that if the application were to go to inquiry, it is then at the Reporter's discretion as to whether or not to take account of late representations. We are agreeable to a 2 week extension of the formal time period.”

The date for representations to be returned by will be advertised in the local media.

Proposed New Electricity Infrastructure

Scottish Hydro-Electric Transmission Limited (SHETL) is presently consulting on routes for possible new electricity infrastructure should any major windfarms gain consent on Lewis. SHETL is at an early stage in the route selection process and the company has stressed the importance of local people making their views known so that the best option can be identified.

The infrastructure of concern to this area is two 132,000 volt circuits to link a new substation in Pairc with the existing substation near Stornoway (on the A859). SHETL has stated a preference to use the existing woodpole line alongside the A859 for one circuit and to build a new woodpole line on a new route which could affect the Ceos, Liurbost, Crosbost area. SHETL has also shown an option for a subsea route between Pairc and Arnish; bypassing our area. SHETL has stated that they believe a subsea cable would have less potential for adverse effects on the environment than a woodpole line on a new route. However, it is more expensive at £16 million rather than £9 million.

SHETL hopes to take a decision in July on which routes to take forward for a detailed environmental impact assessment. The environmental assessments are likely to take a full year. At the end of the assessment, SHETL will need to decide which routes best meet their obligations to build infrastructure that is technically feasible, takes due account of the environment and is not unnecessarily expensive. SHETL will then submit applications for consent to build the new infrastructure. The applications will then trigger a new, formal, consultation process before they are considered by the relevant authorities. In addition to the planning consents, SHETL must also obtain the approval of the industry regulator (Ofgem) who will seek to make sure that SHETL does not invest too much money, which is ultimately added to electricity bills.
Although the closing date for this consultation has passed, SHETL will continue to consider all correspondence received. Comments should be sent to Dr Keith Maclean, Scottish Hydro-Electric Transmission Limited, Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 3AQ

Beinn Mhòr /Muaitheabheal Trust Windfarm (Eishken)

Awaiting decision from the Scottish Executive.

New Walkway revitalises Woodland Plantation in Laxay

Laxay Grazings Committee and the Western Isles Countryside Access Programme have been working together to develop an area of rough grazing and forestry to the North West of Loch Ulapuil. The new pathway can be accessed from the main road and informal parking areas are provided at both ends of the walk. It is hoped that visitors staying in B&B accommodation in the Lochs area or passing through may take in the walk and enjoy the scenery.

The project has been delivered through the Western Isles Countryside Access Programme which is funded by a partnership of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Scottish Natural Heritage and HIE Innse Gall with assistance from the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme (European Union funding).

Wildlife watchers are in for a treat as the woodland/moorland habitat attracts a variety of species like the wren and the skylark. Ducks potter on the lochs and moorland birds: grouse, snipe, plover frequent the area. If you are patient you may even spot an otter messing about around Allt Loch na Criadh or catch glimpse of a sparrow hawk in the skies above Meannan Mor.

We hope that people of all ages and abilities will benefit from this new recreational facility which enables access to this area without wellies! It is a great breathing space to take exercise; walk the dog; enjoy fresh air and listen to the sights and sounds of nature in safety, avoiding traffic on the main road.

By Susan Rabe, Western Isles Countryside Access Programme Officer.

Achmore New Skipsite

The road will hopefully be upgraded shortly beside the old school at Achmore to allow a Skip to be situated there in due course, by the North Lochs Community Council.

UPDATE - Road works

Grimshader- awaiting decision on upgrading. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are talking to Nordex and are expecting to come to an agreement shortly over the remedial works required to the road.

Smiley face – will be situated in the Leurbost area for a short period of time to monitor speed limits.

Laxay/Balallan Road - Discussions are ongoing with Scottish Water and the Council and it is hoped work will begin shortly.

Macdonald Gardens/Hall – Initially delayed due to contamination from an oil spill however the council are hoping to progress the first phase of this work imminently.

Road strengthening work at Half-way Garage and the Creed Bridge at Macaulay Farm were approved by the Transportation committee. Design work will hopefully commence this summer with a view to the works being completed in 2008.

Annie MacDonald.