Letters / Quite taken aback
I am quite taken aback that Jonathan Wills has called my integrity into question (Not ditched; 16/11/12), not least that he has chosen to do so in his capacity as vice chair of Shetland Charitable Trust.
Jonathan has a remarkably sharp mind, so I am surprised he has made a mistake here.
There is no question Viking Energy (VE) did indeed ditch their health impact assessment (HIA). They said there was no legal requirement for it and they ditched it.
The charitable trust has commissioned the current HIA, not Viking Energy.
This is not a continuation of the original study, or a new study commissioned by Viking Energy.
Moreover, it is fair to say that if it were not for the persistence of Sustainable Shetland members making their voices heard, this study would not be taking place at all.
It would be interesting to know if trustees have seen the original HIA. If it showed there were no risks to health, why was it never published?
When the original study was commissioned, VE directors claimed it was of a standard ranking with the most thorough ever carried out by the industry.
I hope the current HIA is given a free rein to investigate all aspects of health risk to those being forced to live near the proposed wind farm.
I will certainly be disappointed if the remit has limitations imposed on it, which will not give the full picture.
Finally, I would like to thank Iain Malcolmson for his letter also refuting Dr Wills’s claims and I hope the questions he asks will be answered in the coming week.
Andrew Halcrow
Chair
Sustainable Shetland
Burra Isle
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