So now we know

Following my recent enquiries about where I can find Viking Energy’s health impact assessment, I have now received a written reply from co-ordinator Allan Wishart.

In it Mr Wishart let me know that the health assessment is not, nor ever was a requirement of the consent application process. Nevertheless Viking Energy did commission one but it was later abandoned when the company’s focus was on the addendum.

Despite the excuse, I believe a responsible company should still consider this a requirement, especially when the development is to be of industrial proportions.

I would like to quote from the 2008 and second issue of Viking Energy’s brochure Windylights.

“Some of the most recent concerns raised in the local media have related to the supposed health impacts that windfarms can have. We accept that Viking Enegy has a responsibility to demonstrate that windfarms are safe. To give credibility to our stance and to react to the advice of NHS Shetland we decided that the best thing to do would be to commission a Public Health Impact Assessment. That report should give a direct professional opinion about what Shetlanders should and should not be worried about. We expect a report to be available this summer.”

Just to remind people, on Radio Shetland’s Public Platform Bill Manson, chairman of the board of directors of Viking Energy and chairman of Shetland Charitable Trust, was asked if a health assessment had been carried out. His reply was: “Yes, we have.”

We now know that there is no health impact assessment.

Evelyn Morrison
Setter,
Weisdale.