The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Energetica team reject claims project has stalled
A north-east councillor has come under fire for suggesting that a massive energy scheme aimed at transforming the local economy had “stalled”.
Peterhead’s Alan Buchan claimed that the planned Energetica corridor was being held up by an “unelected crony cabal” who were responsible for the “plundering and pillaging of Peterhead community assets and funds”.
He made the comments on the front page of his publication, the North-East Weekly, in an opinion piece comparing Peterhead Harbour to Nigg in the Cromarty Firth, which recently announced multimillion-pound plans for a new deep-water quay.
The independent coun-
“Partners are fully committed to Energetica”
cillor for Peterhead North and Rattray said he stood by his statement.
He said that the Energetica project – a 30-mile corridor of new businesses and houses between Peterhead and Aberdeen – had not progressed for several years.
His claim was strongly rejected by the Energetica team. Derek McCrindle, Energetica project director and director of business infrastructure partnerships for Scottish Enterprise, said: “The comments attributed to councillor Buchan have no foundation in fact. All the partners are fully committed to Energetica and the work to deliver the vision is gaining increasing momentum.”
Mr Buchan, who is vicechairman of the council’s infrastructure services committee and member of the Aberdeenshire Alliance, said: “I'm happy to stand by what I wrote.” He claimed that “nothing had happened” since an Energetica Industry Park was confirmed for Peterhead two years ago.
Peterhead councillor Stuart Pratt said: “This is quite incredible. Councillors and the local business community have been given briefings in recent weeks on progress with the Energetica Project but never any hint that the project had ‘stalled’. If it’s not true, then I am at a loss as to why the vice-chairman of the infrastructure committee would make something up like this and the ruling administration needs to consider his position.”