This is the second report
(see last issue for the first) from WAG providing some valid points
& observations on the Antuim Windfarm development, a potentially
disastrous energy project which is, and should be, an island- wide issue.
Wildlife under threat
We must not compromise or squander our natural assets - This area is
one of the most attractive destinations for a wide range of visitors
from all over the world. In 2003, Mull & Iona had 201,000 visitors
according to the AILLST Tourist Board 2004 report, and visitor-derived
income is essential to our community. We must therefore do everything
we can to preserve and stabilise this area’s fragile economy and
wildlife environment, an integral part of which is our growing population
of rare birds. The RSPB, following the planning application for the
erection of the anemometer masts at Antuim stated that ‘The island
of Mull contains one of the highest densities of both white tailed sea
eagles and golden eagles in the country//both species are protected
and listed in Annex 1 of the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild
Birds and on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act’.
The RSPB also objected to the zoning of the north area of Mull as a
limited opportunity area for wind farms in the Argyll & Bute Draft
Local Plan, since ‘this area is the only place in Scotland where
a sea eagle nest is visible to the public//these designations are incompatible
with the wide scale development of wind farms on north Mull’
Mull is quite different to many remote places in Scotland in that it
has been cultivating and promoting a particular ‘brand image’.
This has brought considerable prosperity and employment but above all
it has created an excellent image for eco-tourism (a major growth area
in the industry) which we are able to promote to the rest of the world.
The island and its wildlife are regularly featured on TV and in the
press. During this winter the Daily Mail ran a feature promoting Mull
as one of Britain’s top ten wildlife destinations. It was also
featured on the BBC’s ‘How to Watch Wildlife’ series
which was fronted by Bill Oddie. Their very popular ‘Holiday’
programme also focused on the Island of Mull and young children in the
programme took part in ‘The Quest’ which is our green tourism
adventure project. Recently, every afternoon for a week the Radio 4
programme ‘Soundscape’ has been tracking the life of a pair
of sea eagles featuring sound recordings from Hoy, and particularly,
Mull. There is also an excellent chance that we may, once again, be
featured on a national TV nature programme, when pictures will be beamed
from Mull every day for a week in early summer. Ironically this programme
will be presented from just below the area where the Antuim windfarm
may be sited in the future. Every year the RSPB produces a major wildlife
film which shows all over Britain and beyond and this year it is their
‘Eagle Odyssey’ film which has already won international
awards and mentions Mull as a top eagle spotting destination.
Windfarms are incompatible with this image and could damage our credibility
as a key destination for visitors who are interested in our wildlife
– the very foundation of our sustainable tourist income. This
is, and should be, an island-wide issue.
Democratic Process?
‘We have a mandate from the majority of the Dervaig Community’
– this is what the developers at Antuim keep repeating, as if
a show of hands at a meeting in Dervaig Village Hall gives them the
right to take decisions that will have far-reaching consequences for
the whole of the island community. The process upon which major decisions
are being made is far from democratic since many of those who are going
to be affected have not been involved in any discussions let alone had
a vote in the decisions taken. Why have the developers taken this approach
whereas we understand that on Tiree an island-wide public meeting was
held before any investigations were started and everyone at this meeting
had a chance to vote by a paper ballot (a truly democratic process).
Presumably the developer’s reluctance to follow an island-wide
consultation process is based on sound evidence that the Dervaig community
is in most need of such a development since, according to the developers,
once Antuim is up and running, there will be precious little capacity
remaining on the local grid for others who may want to produce electricity
from renewable resources on the island.
This situation must be clarified as soon as possible, before any more
damage is done:
1. The developers must explain why the whole of the island community
has not been involved in the process, and why they have persisted in
a strategy which divides communities.
2. Our Community Council, as a matter of urgency, should review the
process followed by the developers before further, far-reaching decisions,
that will affect the majority, are once again taken by a minority.
This is, and should be, an
island-wide issue.
If you have any concerns
about these issues or would like to help us to prevent windfarms on
Mull please contact us at:
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