Letters / Undemocratic dream
As an experienced wind turbine owner I am appalled at how the SIC and the wind farm supporters, who do not own or have any hands on experience of wind turbines, have been allowed to push through their ignorant and undemocratic dream.
With the looming prospect of Shetland becoming an industrial environment and the islands’ world renowned unspoilt land and seascape irrevocably changed by the Viking Energy development, it is now clear that other industrial carpet baggers and landscape terrorists see a green light to come to Shetland and plaster the hills with more wind farms, hill roads, quarries, landslide and health risks, flicker stress, TV interference etc.
That said, we now need to take a leaf out of other Scottish local authorities who have multiple wind farm developments in their area and are starting to get serious concerns (Moray, Aberdeenshire, Fife and Orkney) and have a moratorium on any more wind farms pending a landscape capacity study.
The people and the system that railroaded through the Viking Energy development clearly demonstrate not only a real abuse of local democracy, but also a poor if nonexistent planning policy on these huge industrial developments.
I am aware of the local aversion to outside consultants coming in and doing stuff, filling their pockets with our dosh and flying out again, but I cannot see a better way of doing things in this totally predictable contentious situation.
I do believe the planning officials could do it, but in this case we most certainly cannot trust the Town Hall to respect any study they might produce. If a professional, independent and respected company can be found to do this piece of work with some pre-agreed pledge on all sides to respect the outcome or recommendations I guess that is the best we can expect.
It is a shame we cannot trust our elected representatives to deliver proper governance with meaningful inclusive democracy, but this new council looks no better than the past few administrations unless I am being unfair to the new guys who may be somewhat intimidated by the little cabal that is emerging.
Vic Thomas
Clousta
Shetland
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