Spat over wind project progress

HIGHLAND politicians are embroiled in a war of words over the progress of a UK Government island wind project.

Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Lesley Laird wrote to the Scottish secretary last week urging the UK government to bring forward plans to build the proposed Western Isles Radial Connector, commonly referred to as the interconnector.

In the letter, the Labour politician said her party would ‘rural-proof’ all their policies to ensure no communities were left behind.

The comments come following a series of meetings on the islands led by UK Energy Minister Richard Harrington MP.

The planned interconnector will be used to transmit electricity generated by renewable developments on the Western Isles to areas of demand around towns and cities.

The UK government has committed to finishing the project, but without a specific completion date.

Scottish Labour’s rural affairs spokesperson, and Highland regional list MSP, Rhoda Grant commented: ‘As anyone living on the Western Isles is aware, the interconnector has long been discussed but repeatedly failed to materialise.

She continued: ‘The Tories committed in the manifesto to funding its construction, so now must begin that process. Otherwise, local people will be rightly sceptical about the project ever beginning.’

Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Donald Cameron has hit back at Rhoda Grant and the Labour party over the UK government’s work on the interconnector.

He said: ‘It is clear Labour are putting the horse before the cart and don’t understand the difference between constructing an interconnector and making a commitment to subsidising island wind projects. We made a very specific pledge in our manifesto to support the development of island wind projects where there is community benefit and both the UK Government and myself have met regularly with the comhairle and other local stakeholders in Lewis and at Holyrood to discuss how we can deliver on that commitment.

‘It is a bit rich for Labour to make these demands when their UK-wide manifesto never mentioned remote island wind once.

‘As usual, Labour are coming late to this, and it’s about time they set out their own vision for the islands rather than merely piggy-backing on ours.’

Ms Laird has argued that, given there is widespread agreement on the benefits of the proposal, the Conservative government should begin the construction process immediately.