Tarred with same brush

Vic Thomas calls for fairness (Readers’ Views, 16th December), but then proceeds to tar all councillors with the same brush. This is not only unfair but clouds the issue.

The responsibility for the decision to recommend to Scottish ministers the acceptance of the VE planning application rests fairly and squarely on the shoulders of the gang of nine (Angus, Baisley, Budge, Cluness, Doull, Fullerton, Henderson, Nickerson and Simpson) who, in their dual roles as developers and elected representatives had no conflict of interest or qualms of conscience.

I was present at that bizarre meeting where these individuals’ support for the VE windfarm consisted solely of repeating the gospel according to Viking Energy, and was underpinned with such compelling evidence and argument as: “When I was a boy…”, “I can see and sometimes even smell the flare at Sullom Voe”, “a public inquiry only benefits the legal profession”, all topped by the psychic member for Shetland South who claimed to have a mandate from “unborn generations”.

It is these men and women who, on Tuesday 14th December 2010, put a price-tag on Shetland, its environment, its unique landscape, its thriving tourism industry and the well-being of those having to live within a windfarm. They perfectly fit Oscar Wilde’s definition of a cynic: “knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing”.

The four councillors who voted for an independent public inquiry are to be applauded for their honesty, courage and integrity and for substantially raising the level of debate on the day.

Rosa Steppanova
The Lea,
Tresta.