Shameful legacy (Evelyn Morrison)
On yesterday’s news that the Viking Energy project had been given permission I heard the profound statement that this might be “disappointing” for some people.
Does this mean that the destruction of the land and carbon sinks is disappointing?
When the value of your property has now become worthless – is that disappointing?
When your home and quality of life will be ruined – is that disappointing?
When your sons say they will never come back to live in what will be the Shetland industrial site – is that disappointing?
This is not just my story but also many other people’s too, whether they are fully aware of it yet or not.
The nine councillors – yes only nine – who approved this project have left Shetland a shameful legacy and it is contemptible that it has all been done for money.
Evelyn Morrison
Setter,
Weisdale.
David Spence
I totally agree with your sentiments Evelyn. It is not only the massive destruction to the environment, the negative impact this scheme will have on tourism, the massive amount of carbon released into the atmosphere as a result of the construction, but most of all, the short term thinking of a few whose sole purpose is based on profit for themselves regardless of any negative impact they impose on everybody else makes you think that we are not truly represented by our political system unless those ever so painful words ‘ profit ‘, ‘ share holders ‘, ‘ economy ‘ and the elitist few (including the political system) will benefit from short term thinking, but making the quick buck. Although this may not be a valid point, but one could argue the case that Viking Energy has no right to go ahead with this project until the sovereignty of the islands has been 100% established and proven to be part of Scotland?
Rosa Steppanova
As Evelyn mentions the impact on humans faced with the prospect of living on a wind farm, she might be interested in Bill Manson’s comments on “Public Platform” (5.4.). Despite large numbers of turbines sited less than the recommended 2km from dwellings, he stated that a health impact assessment wasn’t “essential”.
I’m sure he has a point. With a measly £3,6 million available to spend to date, VE had to get its priorities right: lobbying visits to the Scottish Parliament, all-expenses paid trips to Whitelee, employing PR consultants, installing a computer programme that churns out “individual” letters of support, massaging carbon payback figures, paying peatland consultants and ignoring their findings if they didn’t fit the VE fantasy, glossy publications, crow extermination devices, corporate hospitality – it all adds up.
Isn’t it comforting to know that our money has been spent on such essential items, while at the same time finding out that VE wind farm is truly a community wind farm – generously allowing the community to pay for it all?
Rosa Steppanova
Lea Gardens
Tresta