Letters / A sad state of affairs
The more things change the more they stay the same (Viking updates trust and makes no comment, SN, 23 May13). We were told by Shetland Charitable Trust a year ago that, virtually regardless of transmission charges, the VE wind farm would earn us £20 million (or was it 25 million?) a year.
We were also told that, after planning consent was given, it was worth between £50 and £130 million.
One year on, the wind farm is no longer viable, i.e. worthless. So what happened in the meantime? Were we told the truth in May 2012?
Dr Wills said recently “there have always been uncertainties (regarding the wind farm)”. Why was the public not informed of this? Why was SCT not informed of uncertainties with the potential of rendering the wind farm non-viable, before parting with £6.3 million of the community’s money last May?
Aaron Priest’s explanation “that with the delay of the interconnector cable until at least 2017 all the parameters for the project had changed” just doesn’t ring true.
I was hoping that with the new SCT we were entering a new era – one of clarity, transparency, openness and greater accountability. I was obviously mistaken. Evasion and secrecy continue as before (“behind closed doors”, “no comment”).
We’re told VE wind farm is a community project. 45 per cent of it is owned by the Shetland community through the Charitable Trust.
As SCT is run by appointees, the community not only has no say, but isn’t even deemed to be deserving of pertinent information rather than spin, at such a crucial time in the project’s development.
This stance by VE and SCT only serves to further erode any confidence and trust still held by the community. A sad state of affairs.
Rosa Steppanova
Tresta
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