Progress on archaeology centre plans
An archaeological research centre which is being planned in Caithness has taken a step forward with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the group behind the initiative and a wind farm developer.
That emerged following a two-day exhibition – held in Thurso – to give people an opportunity to view and comment on the updated plans for a 30-turbine wind farm at Spittal Hill.
Those who attended also heard about the proposals for a Caithness-wide community benefit fund and plans to fund the archaeological research centre earmarked for the Spittal area.
The centre, proposed by the AOC Archaeology Group and members of the Spittal community, would receive funding from the wind farm development.
The plan could give “a significant boost” to the Caithness economy and help increase tourist numbers and bed nights in the Far North.
The county is one of the richest archaeological and historical areas in Scotland.
A third of visitors to Caithness said they visited archaeological sites, compared with 17 per cent for the Highlands as a whole, said a spokesman for Spittal Hill Wind Farm Ltd.
He also pointed out that the centre has the potential to emulate the Land of Legends at Lejre in Denmark, which started out as an archaeological research station and now attracts 55,000 tourists and schoolchildren each year to undertake a programme of workshops and activities.
New initiatives, including a weavers’ shop, pottery and smithy, and various handicraft shops and other outlets, have opened to service the demand created by the centre.
“Such a centre in Caithness has enormous potential in the research and promotion of local archaeology, attracting students, researchers and other visitors,” continued the spokesman.
“It is intended the archaeological centre will continue the research under way in the area since 2004 when AOC Archaeology, in collaboration with the local Spittal and wider Caithness community, undertook studies in a Stone Age chambered cairn and Iron Age broch building.”
John Barber, managing director of AOC Archaeology, said: “One of the great challenges in setting up a centre such as this is not the initial set-up cost but the ongoing operating costs.
“The memorandum of understanding we have agreed with Spittal Hill Wind Farm will allow us to turn the vision we have into a reality, with more confidence in its longer term survival.
“This will not only provide much-needed local employment but should give a significant boost to the Caithness economy, increasing tourist visits and bed nights within the area.”
Tom Pottinger, who with his brother, Steven, runs Spittal Hill Wind Farm Ltd, commented: “We are delighted to have come to an arrangement with AOC Archaeology for the support of this archaeological centre and are happy to provide them and the local Spittal community with financial support should planning consent be granted.
“The exhibition we held was well attended and it was great to hear the ideas coming forward as to how we could distribute community benefit and what it should be used for.”
The event highlighted a number of options for community benefit locally from the development, with annual payment to a separate community trust, administered by local people, being the most favoured option.
A Caithness-wide community benefit fund with renewable energy providers paying contributions into a single pot which could be administered by local people for the local community, as well as turbine ownership, also scored highly.
Developers have entered into discussions with Caithness Chamber of Commerce over the delivery of a county-wide fund.
As previously reported, the Spittal wind farm is being backed by Norwegian company Statkraft, Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy.
According to the developers, the project would bring a number of benefits, including around £150,000 a year to the local community and £375,000 in annual business rates to the Highland Council.
The Pottingers maintain the wind farm would meet the average needs of around 45,000 households and offset the annual release of 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
They also estimate that locally-based businesses could benefit by up to £20 million and stress that 100 jobs are likely to be created during the construction phase as well as those associated with the running of the wind farm.
By Gordon Calder
John O’Groat Journal and Caithness Courier
16 December 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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