Community / More than 1,600 sign petition against pylons
A PETITION with more than 1,600 signatures urging energy company SSEN Transmission to carry out any future development in Shetland responsibly and with “genuine respect” for people, communities and the environment has been handed in.
The 1,623 signatories want the company to bury all transmission cables rather than erecting large pylons to connect infrastructure planned as part of the energy transition.
Organised by Voe Community Development Association (VCDA) the petition is in response to plans by SSEN to build a large converter station just outside the village and run 38 metre high pylons close to the village.
Originally intended to just gather signatures from Voe and surrounding villages, public demand quickly turned the initiative into an island wide feedback to SSENT plans.
The petition was handed in to SSENT’s office at Lerwick’s Stewart building by VCDA chair Martin Naylor on Wednesday afternoon.
The official consultations into the Kergord 2 substation and Shetland AC connections close today (8 January).
Speaking on behalf of VCDA, Naylor said in an accompanying letter that the signatures, collected in just one month, represent the strength of feeling in the community with regards to SSENT’s future activities.
“In particular, residents are united in their determination that transmission cables should be buried appropriately, that our tourism industry and residents are properly protected, and that Shetland’s internationally recognised Geopark status and special landscapes are safeguarded,” the letter said.
Naylor added that with the festive season and the severe weather of recent days an extension of the consultation period had been requested but this was not granted by SSEN Transmission.
He said the signatures collected constituted “an impressive level of engagement”.
Naylor told Shetland News: “When future generations ask what we did to protect the unique character of these islands, we should be able to say that we asserted ourselves and ensured that development was carried out in a thoughtful, sensitive and well-negotiated manner – setting a global example of how councils and communities can work constructively and successfully with large corporations.”
Naylor said the ball was now in SSEN Transmission’s court to send “a clear signal not only to Shetland residents but also to future industrial developers” about the standards the company upholds.
“We acknowledge that further consultations are expected to take place as the project progresses, and we wish to make clear that the Shetland community and the petitioners will continue to engage keenly and constructively at every stage”,” the letter said.
He said he and everybody at VCDA wanted to give out their “sincere thanks to the incredible community, helpers and to those who signed”.
Naylor added that whilst waiting for a response from SSENT, VCDA will focus on future projects for the village including the potential purchase of the Sail Loft to turn it into a community-owned heritage centre.
There are also plans to improve the path at Loch of Voe for all Shetland residents and maybe even extending it right around the loch, if permission to do that can be gained.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
