Wind farm windfall for Spean Bridge area
The community council for Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry is to receive what is believed will be a six-figure sum spread over three years as part of cash being doled out by the energy firm constructing the wind farm at Stronelairg near Fort Augustus.
The SSE renewables development has 66 wind turbines which started generating its first electricity for the National Grid in March.
The company expects the 228 MW wind park to be completed next year.
Those attending Tuesday night’s meeting of Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council heard chairman John Fotheringham confirm the good news.
‘The money will be open to bids from all individuals and organisations throughout the community council area,’ said Mr Fotherin gham. ‘We did ask if the funds would have to be administered by our SCIO [Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation]. However, SSE did offer to administer the scheme but with a panel of local residents which would be the sole arbiter of who gets the money.
‘So we would be looking eventually for a number of residents to represent us.’
As well as Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry, other community councils to benefit are those covering Laggan, Invergarry and Fort Augustus.
Mr Fotheringham added that once SSE made its formal announcement publicly confirming the sums involved, a series of roadshows would be held around the various areas to inform residents about the community benefit scheme.
‘The community benefit which will be paid is mainly due to the disruption which
has been caused [by the transportation of turbine components],’ explained Mr Fotheringham.
‘And it might well be that in the first year we get a bit more than in the subsequent two years as a way of catching up as they are now finished with the turbine deliveries.
‘Also, if the money paid in the first year is not all spent within that year it can be rolled over for the following year. This is a major opportunity for us all and for all local organisations.’
The only two classes of groups barred from bidding for the grants are religious groups and those involved in rival electricity generation projects, says Mr Fotheringham. Meanwhile the same meeting on Tuesday night saw an agreement for senior Highland Council ward manager for Lochaber, Dot Ferguson, to be approached to act as a neutral intermediary to help resolve a disagreement over community benefit being paid from hydro electricity generation schemes on Loch Arkaig.
Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council believes it, as the community council for the Achnacarry area, or its SCIO, should have been in receipt of any community benefit paid as a result of the projects, which would then be distributed across the entire area.
However, the money has been paid to the Achnacarry, Bunarkaig and Clunes community group (ABC Group) – also a SCIO but not a community council.
It was Highland councillor Ben Thompson (Ind, Caol and Mallaig) who suggested Mrs Ferguson be invited to assist in the matter.
Mr Thompson was worried any dispute flaring up in public between the community council and the ABC Group might cause problems for the payment of community benefit.
‘My concern is that the developer might decide not to pay anyone as a result and therefore I’d recommend Dot Ferguson as an independent intermediary to act as a neutral party,’ he said.