Machrihanish Offshore Windfarm

[Sheik Yir Erse]

I noticed a couple of men on Main St this morning beside a table with a sign stating "Say yes to wind" - as I was driving I didn't get a chance to see properly, but I assume it is a campaign to support the windfarm?

......... or Baked Beans

[katya]

Very good Sheik

[Nancie]

They were actually looking for suppport for the proposed windfarm at Kilchattan at Southend.

[Ship called Dignity]

I noticed a couple of men on Main St this morning beside a table with a sign stating "Say yes to wind" - as I was driving I didn't get a chance to see properly, but I assume it is a campaign to support the windfarm?

They were actually looking for suppport for the proposed windfarm at Kilchattan at Southend.

Not that I have any opposition to the proposals but what amazed me was the number of people who just signed the sheets the people were giving them without reading the full text. Amazing how trust worthy people are.

[neilly]

Maybe they were from Machrihanish

[Nancie]

When I was there someone from Machrihanish was asking a lot of questions they didn't have the answers for.

[maxmix]

I noticed a couple of men on Main St this morning beside a table with a sign stating "Say yes to wind" - as I was driving I didn't get a chance to see properly, but I assume it is a campaign to support the windfarm?

Not sure why they were not noticed there before, the last day they were there it was raining all day...

Thats the 2nd time they have been outside my shop now, this time seemed to go a lot better for them... The amount of people they were stopping and getting to sign on the line was unreal.... They caught my eye outside of the window for most of the day.... Nearly everybody they stopped listened to the spiel and signed....

I'm sure when I heard them talking before they packed up late afternoon, that they had over 400 signatures....

They never got me lol when I was out and in... If they are back for a third time, i'll find out the scoop...

maxmix

[SKDT]

Argyll Offshore Wind Farms

Make your views known in a constructive way!

ARC (Argyll Renewables Communities) exist to research and understand all aspects of the proposed offshore wind farms. ARC is completely neutral about these projects, and aims to ensure that communities are enabled to reach balanced decisions on the long-term issues involved, covering infrastructure, employment, culture, tourism, landscape.......indeed anything that you feel may be a benefit or a problem.

The project developers are currently conducting their own research and will continue to do so through 2011, before seeking consents in the first half of 2012. During this time, we have the opportunity to engage with them, help them understand the community view, and see if there are outcomes which generate a balance of advantage to the affected communities.

These are very major projects indeed, with many ramifications, which deserve the fullest consideration of all the potential risks and opportunities, and mature reflection.

We would greatly appreciate if you would complete a short questionnaire on-line at

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ARC_windfarm_impacts

If you prefer to complete a paper questionnaire, these are available from:
South Kintyre Development Trust,
3 Harvey's Lane,
Burnside Square,
Campbeltown,
Argyll,
PA28 6GE

Email: info@skdt.org
http://www.skdt.org

[SKYKON EMPLOYEE]

To the vice chairman of KOWAG who submitted a letter to the courier this week, a "Key Date" is fast approaching for me, it is the 24th of December, this is the day me and my fellow employees are hoping to get paid from our employers. Because of organisations like yours throughout the country, 120 jobs are at risk in a town that is already high in uneployment. Will losing my job "enhance the quality of my life".

Their are hundreds of proposed windfarm sites across the country, but because of public protest they are constantly delayed, which results in company's like SKYKON facing closure due to lack of orders.

The location of the proposed windfarm is abviously due to cost.

I'm interested to hear where the electricity that powers your house is from?

Anyway, next year after "signing-on the dole" I can catch the bus out to Machrihanish, sit all day, enjoy the scenery and work out how I will make my next mortgage payment.

Next time you submit a letter think of the bigger picture and not just the one that could potentially be outside your window!!

[shipyard blues]

Ive been in that situation at xmas time myself Skykon with a young family not nice at all, well said!!

[macmach]

To the vice chairman of KOWAG who submitted a letter to the courier this week, a "Key Date" is fast approaching for me, it is the 24th of December, this is the day me and my fellow employees are hoping to get paid from our employers. Because of organisations like yours throughout the country, 120 jobs are at risk in a town that is already high in uneployment. Will losing my job "enhance the quality of my life".

Their are hundreds of proposed windfarm sites across the country, but because of public protest they are constantly delayed, which results in company's like SKYKON facing closure due to lack of orders.

The location of the proposed windfarm is abviously due to cost.

I'm interested to hear where the electricity that powers your house is from?

Anyway, next year after "signing-on the dole" I can catch the bus out to Machrihanish, sit all day, enjoy the scenery and work out how I will make my next mortgage payment.

Next time you submit a letter think of the bigger picture and not just the one that could potentially be outside your window!!

I pity your situation but you can hardly go about blaming community groups who simply act to protect their interests? If you want to blame someone I'd suggest you look closer to home and the mis-management of the company you work for. Whether wind farms go ahead or don't they are not the reason for the situation at Skycon.

I do feel for the workers and hope it all works out.

PS - I am not involved in KOWAG

[SKYKON EMPLOYEE]

To the vice chairman of KOWAG who submitted a letter to the courier this week, a "Key Date" is fast approaching for me, it is the 24th of December, this is the day me and my fellow employees are hoping to get paid from our employers. Because of organisations like yours throughout the country, 120 jobs are at risk in a town that is already high in uneployment. Will losing my job "enhance the quality of my life".

Their are hundreds of proposed windfarm sites across the country, but because of public protest they are constantly delayed, which results in company's like SKYKON facing closure due to lack of orders.

The location of the proposed windfarm is abviously due to cost.

I'm interested to hear where the electricity that powers your house is from?

Anyway, next year after "signing-on the dole" I can catch the bus out to Machrihanish, sit all day, enjoy the scenery and work out how I will make my next mortgage payment.



Next time you submit a letter think of the bigger picture and not just the one that could potentially be outside your window!!

I pity your situation but you can hardly go about blaming community groups who simply act to protect their interests? If you want to blame someone I'd suggest you look closer to home and the mis-management of the company you work for. Whether wind farms go ahead or don't they are not the reason for the situation at Skycon.

I do feel for the workers and hope it all works out.

PS - I am not involved in KOWAG

What about the interests of the 120 people at Skykon, are they not allowed to "simply act" to protect their interests? Organisations like these delay the go ahead for wind farms, FACT

Will the tourism of the area be affected by the wind farm? DOUBTFUL

Lack of orders is the only reason Skykon is in this situation, and although community groups are not the only reason for this they play a significant role in the delay of the wind farms going ahead.

My bet is you are related to or know someone who works at Skykon.

If you read the letter published in the courier this week you, I hope, agree that the choice of words from the vice chairman such as "key date" and "enhance our quality of life" are questionable.

What would you prefer, a booming local economy or a jobless town with nice scenery?

[Bertie]

I think most people would sympathise over your position Skycon and a lot of this thread has focussed on the dichotomy of local jobs against local scenery. However, if you're advocating that windfarms be erected without local consultation in order to protect jobs then where do you stop? Can we build houses anywhere we want in order to protect construction jobs or, even more relevant to our own area, can we close 25 primary schools without consulting the communities affected just because it saves money and therefore protects council workers jobs? I really don't know what the answer is on this one but I do know that people have the right to have their say, even if we don't always agree with what they're saying.

[SKYKON EMPLOYEE]

I think most people would sympathise over your position Skycon and a lot of this thread has focussed on the dichotomy of local jobs against local scenery. However, if you're advocating that windfarms be erected without local consultation in order to protect jobs then where do you stop? Can we build houses anywhere we want in order to protect construction jobs or, even more relevant to our own area, can we close 25 primary schools without consulting the communities affected just because it saves money and therefore protects council workers jobs? I really don't know what the answer is on this one but I do know that people have the right to have their say, even if we don't always agree with what they're saying.

Jobs boost economy, and I think you will agree our current economic climate across Britain requires jobs. 120 redundancies will have a crippling effect on our local economy. Their will be no need to build houses if their is no one to stay in them. I am not saying that the local protest is the sole reason for Skykon's situation, all I am saying is that the timing and wording of the published letter was completely wrong giving our current situation. But you are right people have the right to have their say, just as I am.

Booming local economy or nice scenery? No contest.

[macmach]

I think most people would sympathise over your position Skycon and a lot of this thread has focussed on the dichotomy of local jobs against local scenery. However, if you're advocating that windfarms be erected without local consultation in order to protect jobs then where do you stop? Can we build houses anywhere we want in order to protect construction jobs or, even more relevant to our own area, can we close 25 primary schools without consulting the communities affected just because it saves money and therefore protects council workers jobs? I really don't know what the answer is on this one but I do know that people have the right to have their say, even if we don't always agree with what they're saying.

Jobs boost economy, and I think you will agree our current economic climate across Britain requires jobs. 120 redundancies will have a crippling effect on our local economy. Their will be no need to build houses if their is no one to stay in them. I am not saying that the local protest is the sole reason for Skykon's situation, all I am saying is that the timing and wording of the published letter was completely wrong giving our current situation. But you are right people have the right to have their say, just as I am.

Booming local economy or nice scenery? No contest.

You are correct in that you have your right of say and it is interesting to read and of course everyone is genuinely concerned about recent events at Skycon. But do you honestly think the residents of Machrihanish should just sit back and let this happen without any involvement in the process?

The two issues are completely separate and the protest against the proposed "Offshore" Windfarm at Machrihanish has NOTHING to do with the current situation at Skycon. FACT