From our Scotland editor - Good description of the massive infrastructe that comes along with wind power and how it will industrialise the last of our remote landscapes.
LEWIS VILLAGERS VOTE AGAINST SUB-SEA CABLE STATION PLAN
Residents at Gravir on Lewis have given the thumbs-down to plans to
build a huge sub-sea cable transmission network in their village.
In a poll of opinion, 44 people out of 58 respondents voted against
the proposal, returning a 76% majority opposed.
Some 82 villagers who live in the township for at least six months
annually were offered ballot papers.
Twenty four people declined to participate with eight residents in
favour and six saying they did not know. One of the organisers Emma
Mackenzie said: "The most important part is that this was carried out
democratically and everybody hadthe opportunity to participate. There
is concern locally over what could happen. We intend to now inform
the community council, our newly-elected councillor and Western Isles
Council of the results of this ballot."
Villagers only discovered eight weeks ago that the small crofting
township is earmarked as landfall for a huge giant interconnector
which is required to export the vast output of giant windfarms in the
Western Isles to the mainland. A huge convertor station would be
constructed on the summit of a hill overlooking the scenic village
with the cable running up the sealoch and across crofts. Transmission
lines would radiate north to Stornoway and west to Eishken. Two
windfarms with more than 100 turbines are also planned to be built in
the Lochs area.
The mainland side of the cable is already subject to a public inquiry
as it needs an upgrade of the Beauly to Denny line to handle the
extra level of electricity.
Energy giant Scottish and Southern (SSE) would build the huge
interconnector through its subsidiary company Scottish Hydro Electric
Transmission which has responsibility for the national grid in
Scotland.
