Labour’s Peacock backs Viking

HIGHLANDS and islands Labour MSP Peter Peacock (Labour) threw his weight behind the Viking Energy wind farm project yesterday (Tuesday) saying it would be “tragic” if Shetland lost its high quality services through a lack of income.

Mr Peacock met with the developers, as well as opponents and supporters of the development.

Afterwards he said anti-Viking campaign group Sustainable Shetland represented “a clear school of thought”, but he still hoped the wind farm came about.

He described the Windfarm Supporters Group as “an impressive group of people” who understood the opportunities that would be created from both the wind farm and the subsea interconnector cable.

He had also met “a number of individuals” who had been converted from scepticism and now saw the “very positive benefits” the wind farm would bring, “even if they accept there will be visual impacts”.

He added: “There is absolutely no doubt Shetland has a higher level of service than anywhere else (in the highlands and islands). It would be tragic to think that standards could be destined to fall significantly after peak oil and as revenues decline.

“I know that thought, and memories of Shetland before oil, have helped persuade many that the Viking project represents the best opportunity to help sustain a significant revenue stream into Shetland to maintain services.”

He went on: “I can think of no worse outcome for Shetland than if the project was still to be advanced by the `Hydro Board’ (now SSE), without the involvement of the charitable trust. That could mean all the disadvantages that some see from a large wind development, with none of the local financial benefits.

“I hope it does not come to that and that the amended plans of Viking Energy, when they are finally revealed, will be seen to have made genuine efforts to address as many of the concerns as possible, while still being able to bring all the major benefits. At that time I hope that more folk will feel comfortable with the project.”