PR firm set up Facebook site to promote windfarm, claims Sustainable Shetland
A page on the social networking site Facebook to promote the Viking Energy windfarm was set up by the public relations firm employed by the developers, according to opposition group Sustainable Shetland.
Vice chairman Kevin Learmonth said the page had been set up by the Inverness office of Weber Shandwick while all three administrators and at least 10 of the 116 supporters of the page are employed by the firm.
Sustainable Shetland claims Shetland Charitable Trust is wasting community money on the development of the windfarm in the face of widespread opposition.
“Basically professional lobbyists and spin doctors outwith Shetland are posing as ordinary members of the public, and all paid for by money out of our own charity,” said Mr Learmonth.
Sustainable Shetland’s own Facebook page has 260 supporters.
James Stewart
What did Sustainable Shetland expect? A PR firm, which Viking Energy have hired to promote them, to not do so?
I think SusShet would have more of a complaint if a majority of the 116 supporters were not Shetlanders.
I’m not for or against the project, but Sustainable Shetland do not help themselves sometimes.