COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Monday 23 May 2005 at 10.00am.

PRESENT	Mr Angus Nicolson (Chairman)
	Mr George Lonie	Mr Donald Maclean
	Mr Keith Dodson	Mr Martin C Taylor
	Mr Angus Campbell	Mr Peter Carlin
	Mr Angus McCormack	Mr Ronald J Mackinnon
	Mrs Morag Munro	Mr Angus Macdonald
APOLOGIES	Mr Ian M Macleod (Vice-Chairman)
	Mr Alex A MacDonald

Declaration of Interests	1	There were no declarations of interest.
		DEVELOPMENT CONTROL
Large Windfarm Applications:  Presentations	2	With reference to item 12 of the Minute of Meeting of 9 December 2004 and item 39 of the Minute of Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 16 December 2004, the Head of Development Services submitted a Report setting out the arrangements for presentations on wind farm applications submitted under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 by Lewis Wind Power Ltd., and Beinn Mhor Power. It was stated in the Report that the meetings of the Committee scheduled to be held during the period 23 May 2005 – 26 May 2005 were information gathering sessions and that comprehensive Reports providing an analysis of the applications and of representations received in terms of the relevant material considerations, for such applications, would be submitted to the Committee.
		Appended to the Report was a summary description of the proposals submitted by Lewis Wind Power Ltd and Beinn Mhor Power.  It was intimated that Lewis Wind Power Ltd proposed to construct 234 turbines in an area extending from the western outskirts of Stornoway, across the centre of the Barvas Moor and then west from Barvas to the eastern edge of Shawbost and north east from Barvas to Ness.  It was further stated that the windfarm proposed by Lewis Wind Power Ltd would have an installed capacity of 702 MW and would consist of: (1) 234 wind turbines, each with a foundation and crane hardstanding; (2) 167 kilometers (104 miles) of access roads; (3) 9 electrical sub-stations; (4) a control building; (5) 9 wind monitoring masts; (6) over head lines and underground cables; (7) 5 rock source areas; (8) 8 temporary compounds; and (9) 4 concrete batching plants.
		Each wind turbine proposed by Lewis Wind Power Ltd would have: (1) 3 MW generation capacity; (2) 3 glass fibre and/or carbon fibre reinforced blades; (3) 100 m diameter rotor; (4) 90 m high, conical steel tower; (5) 140 m tip height; and (6) an off-white colour The proposed construction timescales were also detailed in the Report together with information on decommissioning, on the basis that the wind farm would have a life of 25 years after which it would be decommissioned leaving only the roads visible. The summary description of Beinn Mhor Power’s proposals intimated that Beinn Mhor Power proposed to construct 133 wind turbines and associated infrastructure with internal connecting tracks on the Eishken Estate situated on the Pairc peninsula in the south east of the Isle of Lewis.  It was further stated that the main components of the project were: (1) installation of 133 wind turbines; (2) construction of ancillary development comprising access tracks, on-site sub-station, connecting cabling and 5 permanent wind monitoring masts; (3) creation of 10 temporary construction compounds; (4) 22 borrow pits (quarries) for the extraction of stone; (5) upgrade of the Eishken Estate road; and (6) proposals for the regeneration of the Eishken Estate’s natural and cultural heritage. It was further intimated that it was expected that each proposed wind turbine would have: (1) a 3 MW generation capacity; (2) 3 reinforced blades made from fibre reinforced epoxy; (3) 90 m diameter rotor; (4) 80 m high, conical steel tower; (5) 125 m tip height. Details of the phasing of the construction of the proposed wind farm were outlined in the Report and it was stated that planning permission was sought for a 30 year period comprising a 4 year construction period, 25 year operational lifespan and an 18 month decommissioning period. The Chairman prior to inviting those present to make presentations emphasised that the meetings were concerned with information gathering and that their aim was to: (1) give Members of the Comhairle an opportunity to understand the key issues as comprehensively as possible; and (2) allow Community Councils and key consultees the opportunity to present and clarify their views and the reasons for them;
		and that the presentations were not to be taken as official representations for either the Comhairle, or the Scottish Executive, to take into account when considering the large wind farm applications submitted by Lewis Wind Power Ltd and Beinn Mhor Power and that such representations should be submitted in writing, as soon as possible, but in any event before the official consultation period closed.
		Sandwick Community Council The Chairman invited Mr William Macfarlane and Mr William Macleod, Sandwick Community Council to address the Committee on the Wind Farm application submitted by Lewis Wind Power Ltd. An opportunity was afforded to Members to ask questions of Mr Macfarlane and Mr Macleod. The Chairman thanked Mr Macfarlane and Mr Macleod for their presentation.
		Back Community Council The Chairman invited Mr Murdo Murray and Mr George Stewart, Back Community Council to address the Committee on the Wind Farm application submitted by Lewis Wind Power Ltd. An opportunity was afforded to Members to ask questions of Mr Murray and Mr Stewart. The Chairman thanked Mr Murray and Mr Stewart for their presentation.
		Tong Community Council The Chairman invited Mr George Moody, Tong Community Council to address the Committee on the Wind Farm application submitted by Lewis Wind Power Ltd. An opportunity was afforded to Members to ask questions of Mr Moody. The Chairman thanked Mr Moody for his presentation.
		Barvas and Brue Community Council The Chairman invited Mr Calum Morrison, Mr Colin Alex Morrison, and Mr Ian Cockburn, Barvas and Brue Community Council to address the Committee on the Wind Farm application submitted by Lewis Wind Power Ltd. An opportunity was afforded to Members to ask questions of Mr Calum Morrison, Mr Colin Alex Morrison and Mr Cockburn. The Chairman thanked Mr Calum Morrison, Mr Colin Alex Morrison and Mr Cockburn for their presentation
		Airidhantuim Community Council The Chairman invited Mr Donald A Mackay, Airidhantuim Community Council to address the Committee on the Wind Farm application submitted by Lewis Wind Power Ltd. An opportunity was afforded to Members to ask questions of Mr Mackay. The Chairman thanked Mr Mackay for his presentation.
		Ness Community Council The Chairman invited Mr John Maciver, Mr Neil Finlayson and Mr Angus John Macleod, Ness Community Council to address the Committee on the Wind Farm application submitted by Lewis Wind Power Ltd. An opportunity was afforded to Members to ask questions of Mr Maciver, Mr Finlayson and Mr Macleod. The Chairman thanked Mr Maciver, Mr Finlayson and Mr Macleod for their presentation.
		Laxdale Community Council The Chairman invited Dr Jean Davis and Ms Lizbeth Dunne, Laxdale Community Council to address the Committee on the Wind Farm application submitted by Lewis Wind Power Ltd. An opportunity was afforded to Members to ask questions of Dr Davis and Ms Dunne. The Chairman thanked Dr Davis and Ms Dunne for their presentation.
		Stornoway Trust The Chairman invited Mr Iain Maciver and Mr Kenny Maciver, Stornoway Trust to address the Committee on the Wind Farm application submitted by Lewis Wind Power Ltd. An opportunity was afforded to Members to ask questions of Mr Iain Maciver and Mr Kenny Maciver. The Chairman thanked Mr Iain Maciver and Mr Kenny Maciver for their presentation.