Forgetting their priorities

Some of our councillors seem to have forgotten that they are only directors of Viking Energy because they are charitable trustees, which status in turn they achieved only by being members of Shetland Islands Council.

The fact that they chose to sign their letter to this week’s paper in their secondary roles as directors of Viking Energy rather than in their primary roles as democratically-elected councillors speaks volumes about who they think they are and what they see as their priorities and obligations.

It is also further dispiriting proof, if any were needed in the wake of recent fiascos, that many of our councillors are contemptuous of democracy and the democratic process.

The windfarm debate is causing great anger and resentment within our community. The council’s first and overriding priority should have been to accurately discover the balance of opinion within the community on this massive issue. They have failed to do so and in truth have hardly even tried, possibly wary of the outcome of such genuine consultation.

It’s not too late though. If a simple referendum were held on a yes/no vote to this project I believe most people would abide by whatever the result was and most of the wrangling would cease out of respect for the democratic process.

As long, that is, as the council had the good sense and decency to thereafter make the outcome of the referendum official council policy in its dealings with the Scottish government and the other major stakeholders.

I really can’t see how anyone, whether for or against the windfarm, could do anything but applaud them if they belatedly adopted such a stance.

Clive Munro
5 Helendale Drive,
Lerwick.