Wind farm offers hope

As part of the "indigenous people" of Lewis, I have to take issue with Philip Blair's comments on the proposed Lewis Wind Power wind farm (Alternative Take, 24 January).

Our islands face major economic challenges. Our young people are leaving the islands and our age demographics show that our elderly population will greatly increase. Unless something is done, Lewis faces an unsustainable future for its people, never mind its trout.

Public and private bodies in the islands have worked together to come up with a strategy to combat the challenges we face by using the resources we have. One of those resources is the wind.

The community benefit from the Lewis wind farm will equate to about 6 million of investment a year, investment that can be used to stimulate employment and empower our communities to create sustainable futures on a scale that far outweighs any revenue from public agencies at the moment.

Incidentally, the vast majority of the area of Lewis will be untouched by the proposed wind farm and trout fishing will carry on as before, so Mr Blair can continue to make his occasional fishing trips – although that will not enable my children or any others to remain in or return to the island of their birth.

ANGUS CAMPBELL

Vice convener, Western Isles Council

Sandwick Road

Stornoway, Lewis

In your report, "Should a massive wind farm be built on Lewis moorland?" (17 January), Angus Nicholson says: "With the prospect of 5 million per annum being brought into the local economy every year for the next 25 years from this scheme alone, the potential impact on the Western Isles is huge."

However, 5 million per annum – from the largest of the three wind farm schemes proposed for Lewis – does not compare with the Hitrans report, which revealed that more than 700 new jobs and 22.2 million a year could be injected into the Western Isles' economy if recommended changes were made to the timetable and ferry fares between the mainland and the Western Isles.

If economic and social growth is indeed such an issue in the Western Isles, why were the recommendations submitted in the 2006 Hitrans report not acted upon speedily?

NORMA ITTMANN

Raleigh Road

Cowies Hill, South Africa