Viking and RSPB meet in hope of resolving differences over windfarm

Representatives of the firm behind the controversial plan for a windfarm in central Shetland have met senior staff from one of the groups that formally objected to the scheme.

The Viking Energy Partnership, which comprises Viking Energy Ltd. and Scottish and Southern Energy, is seeking to address serious concerns about the impact the 150-turbine project would have on important bird species made by RSPB Scotland.

In its submission to the Scottish Government’s energy consents unit as part of the planning process, the RSPB warned the windfarm would cause “unacceptable damage” to the UK populations of bird species such as whimbrel and Arctic skua.

After the meeting Viking Energy Ltd. chairman Bill Manson said: “The formal responses to the government’s energy consents unit from bodies such as RSPB Scotland expressed a number of concerns.

“This meeting continues the process of addressing concerns in order to move matters towards a mutually agreeable series of solutions.”

Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland, said: “We were pleased to meet with Viking Energy Partnership to explore means to resolve our concerns. We have agreed further discussions to take this forward.”

RSPB Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), another of the bodies that objected to the Viking proposals, assisted in the drawing up of the environmental statement that was submitted to the Scottish Government in May. A meeting has already been held between Viking and SNH.