Fearn Peninsula Development Trust
You may have heard about the planning application for a wind farm on Nigg Hill. The outcome of this application will be determined by Highland Council later this year. It is important to understand that with any major project, the outcome will have an impact on the local community, with potential benefits as well as potential drawbacks. We believe that the community can be best served by open consideration of the matter, there has been a lot of informal “discussion” in the community but that is not the intention of the Fearn Peninsula Development Trust (FPDT).
The FPDT has been set up to represent the coomunities and engage with the developer to ensure that any community benefit which might arise from the development is maximised and that discussions with the developer regarding this happens sooner rather than later.
The Fearn Peninsula Development Trust is a group of local people, who from a keen awareness of the potential financial benefits a major development can bring, were determined that this community did not miss out if planning were to be granted. We were also aware that this opportunity was not being pursued by the local community councils, some of whom did not feel they could engage with the subject owing to its sensitivity, or by any other group. We have thus stepped up to negotiate the nature and basis of a community turbine with the developer should the project go ahead.
In the light of the certainty of very difficult times ahead as regards public funding, with huge cuts being proposed in Highland Council budgets and other funding being reduced, we want to do the best for our community, and ensure that the area maximises the potential benefits from this opportunity. We are all volunteers and are gaining nothing from this personally, save the knowledge that if the project progresses, we have been involved in something worthwhile for our peninsula, for today and tomorrow.
What has the Group done so far?
- We have corresponded and been in communication and discussion with local Community Councils
- We have met, corresponded with, and been in discussion with the Developer
- We have met and corresponded with Community Energy Scotland (an independent charity who work with and advise communities on renewable energy projects in their area) for advice and support
- We have set up our own web-site
- We are currently preparing an information leaflet which will be sent to every household in the Fearn Peninsula area
- We have made contact with other similar Trusts
- We have adopted a working constitution
- We have appointed a Chairman and Secretary