Machrihanish Offshore Windfarm

[Nancie]

See you are still browsing, skowag. Speak up and enlighten us.

[skowag]

In the interests of democracy I think we should be told who is behind SKOWAG.

Kintyre Offshore Windfarm Action Group (KOWAG) was formed following a public meeting in July. A committee was elected with office bearers. The group now has a constitution. Another public meeting in Machrihanish was held tonight so that the public could be kept informed of progress and another will be held in Campbeltown tomorrow night. (7.30pm in the Argyll Hotel)

That's democracy.

When was SKOWAG formed? Who are the office bearers? Who is actually behind it?

If they have nothing to hide they will show their faces and let people see what they are signing up for.

Ok, so a group of people all opposed to the windfarm get together and elect a committee, office bearers et al to formalise a group to oppose said windfarm and then put up an online petition ( note it's a petition, not a survey) where you're only allowed to express your opposition to the windfarm. What is democratic about that? All I did was give those who disagree with your groups views a chance to express their views, so why is my petition any less valid than yours? And no one's signing up to anything, they're only expressing their views. I see on your website that you do have a survey where you can express support but you must have 'forgotten' to mention it so here's the link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BT78CJS I do notice however that although you can express your support there is no option to allow you to expand on this until the final question on page 2 where you are almost being asked to justify your support , but if you express opposition then you have no less than seven other options in Q3 to drive home your point.

Ok, I admit I did the support survey thing as a bit of a dig at the anti lobby and it was all a bit tongue in cheek but it's almost a crime on here to express any support for the windfarm. I wonder what the reaction would be if the government had decided to build a nuclear power station here, after all it would be an ideal place being very remote and relatively low population mass around it, or maybe a nice big coal fired station.

On a final note, before there are any more comments like those made to Bill earlier in this thread, I should point out that I have a fantastic view of the proposed development area, indeed much better than most, if not all Kowag officers, committee etc.

[skowag]

See you are still browsing, skowag. Speak up and enlighten us.

Like I said in my post, if you speak in support of the windfarm you'll be hounded. Thanks to Nancie and Pans Lass for the taunting 'holier than thou ' comments. I am merely expressing my opinion on this thread and it carries no more or no less weight than your opinions.

[Pans Lass]

Skowag you are entitled to your opinion like we all are but it was your user name that annoyed me .

[Ags]

On a final note, before there are any more comments like those made to Bill earlier in this thread, I should point out that I have a fantastic view of the proposed development area, indeed much better than most, if not all Kowag officers, committee etc.

Skowag if that is my post re Bill you are referring to, spot the wink at the end of my comment!! If you are in the habit of reading the forum you will know that Bill and I very rarely agree on anything. I would however hope, with the aid of the smilie, that Bill will take that comment as it was intended TONGUE IN CHEEK

[Ninja Mania]

See you are still browsing, skowag. Speak up and enlighten us.

Like I said in my post, if you speak in support of the windfarm you'll be hounded. Thanks to Nancie and Pans Lass for the taunting 'holier than thou ' comments. I am merely expressing my opinion on this thread and it carries no more or no less weight than your opinions.

Skowag, don't be hounded out by anyone who expresses their opinion. There are lots of folk who tend to think its their way or no way, but there is also a lot of folk who like to hear both sides of the story.
The problem is that not many will come on and say what they think, because of the type of replies they might get, similar to the one's you got.
Say what you want when you want too, thats what makes it a debate. Btw I think your user name is ok, it made me snigger.

[smokynuk]

Personally i have nothing against wind farms, in fact im all for them and i think they look pretty elegant, and by saying that i mean i wouldnt mind if they were build right outside my house. At least id get a chance to see how windy it is every morning...

But i also think the general population on this forum seem to think that if you dont stay in Machrihanish then you're not entitled to an opinion. Given, the proposed site does not affect myself or the likes of Bill, people forget this is just a forum. A forum for discussion and expression of opinion, any opinion, not just one.

Finally, i also think that if the majority of the residents at Machrihanish do not want the wind farm to go ahead then it shouldnt. Simple as that. What i cant understand is why they couldnt have proposed a more rural site - or a site out of view of a populated area like Machrihanish? Maybe the answer is already in this thread, but with the arguments and hounding, the thread has gotten a bit too long for me to go back and read every single post.

[red]

You're not by any chance Mrs. Joan Dickson, wife of the Canadian millionaire and former Dundee F.C. chairman Ron Dickson

[bill]

Skowag, don't be hounded out by anyone who expresses their opinion. There are lots of folk who tend to think its their way or no way, but there is also a lot of folk who like to hear both sides of the story.
The problem is that not many will come on and say what they think, because of the type of replies they might get, similar to the one's you got.
Say what you want when you want too, thats what makes it a debate. Btw I think your user name is ok, it made me snigger.

100% with you Ninja,wouldn't be much of a forum if every one had the same view.

the thread has gotten a bit too long for me to go back and read every single post.

I would not advise you go to the trouble smokynuk,you will only be accused of "nitpicking" by the powers to be.
I also included the to indicate that that was written tongue in cheek.


Wouldn't it be ironic if after all the righteous indignation,name calling,protest campaign,writing to councillors and MPs,and letters in the Koorier if the survey from the wee boat shows the sea bed at the proposed sight to be unsuitable.

[Govangirl]

But i also think the general population on this forum seem to think that if you dont stay in Machrihanish then you're not entitled to an opinion.

I can't agree there Smokynuk, I've been generously afforded my opinions (of which I have many ) and I don't stay there. I've certainly never felt 'hounded' for goodness sake and I am truly interested in what the supporters who live there think. I really think this has been a very healthy debate from both sides on what is a very important issue.

Wouldn't it be ironic if after all the righteous indignation,name calling,protest campaign,writing to councillors and MPs,and letters in the Koorier if the survey from the wee boat shows the sea bed at the proposed sight to be unsuitable.

That's a bit silly, how can that be ironic? It's irony if one of the inevitable outcomes occurs? And sorry, but 'nit-picking and righteous indignation?

POT KETTLE BLACK

[kowag]

Just another reminder of what is happening with KOWAG after tonight's public meeting:
On 5th and 6th October Committee Members of the Kintyre Offshore Windfarm Action Group held two successful public meetings at Machrihanish Village Hall and the Argyll Hotel Campbeltown . The primary purpose of the meeting was to update the community on the vigorous campaigning activities of the Group in seeking to have the ill considered Kintyre development removed from the Government's offshore wind plan.

In addition to display boards, pamphlets, speaches by committee members and the leaders of both Machrihanish Golf courses, there was a powerful short movie about the visual impact of the proposed development on the beautiful and ecologically rich west Kintyre seaboard. This received warm applause and will be made widely available on web forums.

In the open question and answer forum there were very positive and helpful comments, questions and suggestions from the 50-60 people who attended each event and Machrihanish Dunes made a public contribution of £500 to the Action Group's campaign funds. Councillor John Semple also took questions at the Campbeltown Meeting and elaborated on Argyll & Bute Council's recent decision to endorse the Action Group's position regarding the unwelcome development.

The Committee had a good story to tell about all the influential organisations and individuals who have lodged their concerns about the Inshore windfarm, but stressed the need for the community to keep up the pressure on Ministers, for example by signing the petition.

[smokynuk]

Its good that all this action is happening but can someone tell me what Jim Mather is doing about this?

[bill]

Was thinking similar today when I was reading Bill's posts! Who needs moderators when we have Bill trailing through evey single post you make on the forum, nit picking comments!

the thread has gotten a bit too long for me to go back and read every single post.

I would not advise you go to the trouble smokynuk,you will only be accused of "nitpicking" by the powers to be.

Govangirl ,as we tend to normally disagree on most things we also tend to ignore each other,but as you have seen fit to reply to my previous post I will do you the courtesy and reply to yours.
The nitpicking comment to smokeynuk was in reference to a previous comment from Ship,as displayed above.
Of course you have never felt "hounded",you agree 100% with the protest group,so though you are not from the area your opinion is accepted.I on the other hand,though born,raised and worked in the town,have a different view point, and as such certain forum members feel that it has nothing to do with me,and as such should refrain from posting.
As for being ironic,yes I do feel that after all the protesting on the proposed windfarm it would be indeed ironic if the chosen site proved to be unsuitable once the survey is complete.It would all have been a wasted effort on the part of the no campaign.

You're not by any chance Mrs. Joan Dickson, wife of the Canadian millionaire and former Dundee F.C. chairman Ron "Dickhead" Dickson ?

Red,is there a hidden meaning in your question to smokeynuk,or are you actually calling him/her a dickhead ??

[smokynuk]

Red,is there a hidden meaning in your question to smokeynuk,or are you actually calling him/her a dickhead ??

LOL Yknow Bill i cant tell if you're trying to stir the pot or if your pointing out that Red is trying to stir the pot!

In anycase i ignored Red's post for 3 reasons.
1. Red didnt refer to me specifically
2. I thought he/she was still trying to figure out who skowag was
3. I had no idea what he/she was talking about so assumed they werent talking to me.

In anycase its embers like this - an assumed meaning or a hidden dig at someone that gets fueled by paranoia and past history between people that causes ill will.
Lets just stick to healthy debate about the subject at hand shall we and leave out the insults (insinuated or not)

Anyway bringing this back on topic, i thought they would have surveyed the sea bed BEFORE proposing the site for the wind farm...?

[Bertie]

Hi Bill. I was checking my previous posts because I'd hate to think I'd suggested that the thread had nothing to do with you and therefore should refrain from posting. Thankfully, that's not the case so I hope you haven't taken that interpretation from anything I wrote. As for "tongue in cheek" comments, I hope you enjoy the following:

Once upon a time, in a far away land called Corby, lived a man called Bob.

One day one of the largest companies in the land sent their finest salesman to visit Bob to tell him that they were going to build a 400 ft mobile phone transmitter in his front garden. “Surely not my garden” cried Bob “It’s the finest garden in all of Corby. People come from miles around to take photos of it”. “Never mind” said the salesman, “They’ll come and take photos of the tower instead”.

“Could you not place the tower somewhere else?” Bob asked reasonably. “Well we could put it about 3 or 4 miles up the road where less people would see it but it would cost us a lot more and would impact on our profits and the King has already given us a nod and a wink that it will be fine where it is.”

“But what about my view and the value of my house?” asked Bob. “Well actually, some people in Corby think they are a thing of beauty, especially if they are in someone else’s garden” said the salesman “Although most people would agree your view will be crap, which ironically will be similar to what the value of your house will be.”

“Well I suppose the sacrifice will be worth making if the people of Corby get cheaper phone bills” said Bob. “You’d think” said the salesman “but in fact this transmitter is for the benefit of, the Kingdom of Wales so, the peasants of Corby will have to keep on paying.” “Surely it will mean some local jobs though?” asked Bob. “No” replied the salesman. “Our construction team will come from foreign lands and our maintenance team will be based in Newcastle. Perhaps your local innkeepers may benefit for a short time but that will be about it.”

“So will no one other than BT benefit from this project?” wailed Bob. “Of course” said the salesman. “The children in Wales will benefit from cheaper and faster downloads to their mobile phones where they’ll be able to learn about fascinating topics like renewables and the environment. They’ll be delighted and, after all, the children are our future.”

So, armed with this knowledge, Bob wholeheartedly embraced the project and lived happily ever after. The End?

More grim than Grimm I know!!