Opponents of Viking Energy urged to join street protest

Anti-Viking Energy protest organisation Sustainable Shetland is encouraging anyone opposed to the huge windfarm to take to the streets of Lerwick for a march later this month.

The group is urging anyone opposed to the 127-turbine, 457MW project to join in a day of action directed at councillors and Scottish energy minister Jim Mather. The rally will be held under the banner “Save Shetland’s environment – Stop Viking Energy”.

Sustainable Shetland vice-chairman Kevin Learmonth said the organisation, which has 767 members, was hoping for a good turnout for next Saturday’s protest.

“It’s really for absolutely anybody with a concern about the Viking Energy windfarm,” he said. “Everyone’s got their own take and their own reasons why they’re opposed – it’s a chance for them to make their voices heard.

“This is a way of sending a message to councillors, but mainly directed at Jim Mather and the SNP government to say folk in Shetland are really unhappy about this, and that a public show of feeling is very important at this stage.

“In a Shetland context, a couple of hundred people is pretty good. A million took to the streets in Egypt, of a population of 83 million, so the equivalent would be 260 folk – anything on top of that is a bonus.”

Viking Energy submitted its application to the Scottish government’s energy consents unit and SIC councillors controversially voted 9-4 to recommend its approval in December, going against the advice of the local authority’s own planning department.

Mr Learmonth pointed to 2,300 objections lodged with the energy consents unit, which councillors had “somehow managed to dismiss as if it wasn’t important” while “putting a lot of faith” in the 900 individuals who wrote support letters.

He added: “Most of our members, indeed most of our committee have never been to a protest march in their life, and this is not a step that we take lightly. It’s a serious point, but it should be a fun day out – it’s for all the family. It’s a community event.”

The government’s energy consents unit is considering the application and a verdict is expected before the summer is out. Among the options are calling for a public inquiry, which could take up to two years.

  • The march will begin at the Market Cross at 11.30am on Saturday 19th February. Its route will be along Commercial Street, up Harbour Street and along to Lerwick Town Hall – which has been booked out for the day and will host teas, coffee and information stalls.

COMMENTS(4)

Add Your Comment
  • Jim Smith

    • February 8th, 2011 12:06

    Do the Objectors have a better Idea then two Huge Power Stations pumping out Exhaust Fumes all day everyday not to mention the cost of diesel
    Many a country has Windmills spead around and are treated as part of the Environment a small price to pay for a cleaner source of Wind Power (which Shetland has plenty off)
    It would be interesting to see how many objectors also Object to the Mareel Project.

    REPLY
  • Leslie Lowes

    • February 8th, 2011 22:50

    How refreshing to see a report on a Sustainable Shetland activity that dioes not include the misinformation so frequently claimed by this organisation, that they represent the opinion of most people in Shetland. Having said that, their use of the generic term “folk” which is not a determinate number is highly qustionable. I quote from the report “folk in shetrand are really unhappy about this.”

    Well, some folk may be, but other folk think it is a good idea and support Viking Energy’s plan. 🙂

    REPLY
  • Ian Bruce

    • February 9th, 2011 11:07

    “It would be interesting to see how many objectors also Object to the Mareel Project.”
    – Jim Smith

    Well you have just met one

    “Do the Objectors have a better Idea then two Huge Power Stations”

    Yes if we have to be the new Power Station for the whole of Scotland
    Just so Mr.Salmond can brag about his green credentials
    Then nuclear power station must be built in the Mareel as well

    “How refreshing to see a report on a Sustainable Shetland activity that dioes not include the misinformation so frequently claimed by this organisation, that they represent the opinion of most people in Shetland”

    “Well, some folk may be, but other folk think it is a good idea and support Viking Energy’s plan”

    Leslie Lowes
    Well it seems that you are just as guilty of misinformation
    The implication being that there are a loads of people who want this monstrosity?

    REPLY
  • Stella Winks

    • February 12th, 2011 11:49

    I’ll be on the march – these beautiful islands need protecting from the proposed rape and pillage of the environment and trust funds…VIKING energy, appropriate name given the scheme methinks!!

    REPLY

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