January 20, 2021
Scotland
Scotland
SIC notes petition calling for Viking Energy windfarm construction to be suspended and instructs for report to be produced
Andrew Hirst | The Shetland Times | 20 January 2021 | www.shetlandtimes.co.uk
Andrew Hirst | The Shetland Times | 20 January 2021 | www.shetlandtimes.co.uk
The SIC has noted a petition calling for work to be halted on the Viking Energy windfarm.
The petition, which had gathered more than 1,200 signatures, was submitted by campaign group Save Shetland for discussion at today’s (Wednesday) council meeting.
It raised concerns that the development was not being “independently monitored and scrutinised”. It called for all construction work to be stopped until concerns have been addressed.
The SIC’s political leader moved that the petition be noted and for a council officer to be instructed to provide a report for discussion at a future meeting.
Viking Energy windfarm spokesman Aaron Priest said independent scrutiny of wind farm construction and related monitoring programmes was already in place.
He said it was the legal responsibility of the SIC’s planning service and the Scottish government, in consultation with statutory consultees such as Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
He said the scrutiny of construction is enshrined through existing Environmental Impact Assessment.