Council chief threatens to 'disrupt' tidal energy plant

A COUNCIL leader is calling for "direct action" against a planned £40 million tidal farm off Skye as a protest at what he claims is inadequate consultation on the development.

It was announced last week that the Crown Estate had approved a leasing agreement for the four-turbine development by Marine Current Turbines (MCT) in Kyle Rhea, the between Skye and the Scottish mainland.

The project is likely to have a maximum power of 8MW. The company aims to submit a planning application early next year to Marine Scotland and to have the turbines deployed by 2014.

However, Michael Foxley, the council leader, is angry that the deal to give access to the seabed has been approved without "meaningful" discussion with either the local authority or the communities nearby.

A spokeswoman for MCT said it had held a meeting with three council planning officials in May last year.

"Furthermore, MCT have engaged with many local community members at various points to discuss the project."

She added that the company has a track record on community engagement via a similar project at Strangford Lough, Co Down, from 2008.

But Dr Foxley said consultation has been "modest and minimal".

He added: "The level of consultation with planning officers is clearly grossly inadequate."

He said a community company has been investigating its own tidal project in the area: "They (MCT] should be doing this in partnership with the local communities, either as a joint venture or through tangible benefits such as jobs or cash. Otherwise it is blatant exploitation.

"Its like a colonial power coming in saying we are going to develop over the top of your wishes, your own environment and your own landscape issues. That is what the Crown Estate commissioners and this com-pany have just agreed to do."

He added: "We must demonstrate the depth of feeling, otherwise it will be another missed opportunity. There have been too many down the centuries in the Highlands and Islands."

While not specifying the type of direct action he had in mind, Dr Foxley said he would be happy to disrupt the development and encouraged others to do the same. He is to raise the issue with Ian Davidson, chairman of the Scottish affairs committee which has started an inquiry into the Crown Estate's role.

A Crown Estate spokesman said the agreement for lease does not permit construction but gives MCT exclusive access to the seabed to allow exploratory work prior to a planning application being submitted.

He added: "As part of its statutory responsibilities and as the relevant elected authority, Scottish Government will undertake consultation prior to reaching a final decision on whether the development should proceed; the separation of the processes for promoting development, and regulating that development, is fundamental to ensuring democratic accountability."