LOCAL NEWS OCTOBER 12 2023
Written by MartyM on 12 October 2023
Breakish wind farm events to be held next month
A series of public drops event concerning proposals for a new 20-turbine wind farm in Breakish will take place in south Skye next month.
At present Lomond Energy, which is working on behalf of Swedish company ARISE AB, is finalising its design for the development, which would comprised 20 turbines 180 metres in height.
Lomond Energy have stated that the wind farm would generate benefit fund of £500,000 annually for local communities.
The Breakish Wind Farm Action Group, which is made up of local residents who are opposing the plans, argue that the development would have a profoundly damaging impact on the environment, wildlife and the economy.
The site for the proposed development is to the southeast of Breakish within the common grazings which form part of Fearann Eilean Iarmain.
The public events will take between 2pm and 7pm at the following venues in November:
- Monday 13th – An Crubh, Sleat.
- Tuesday 14th – Breakish Hall
- Wednesday 15th – Kyleakin Community Hall
- Thursday 16th – Broadford Village Hall
Lomond Energy has stated that it is expects to submit a full planning in January/February 2024.
Highland Council gears up for winter maintenance
The Highland Council’s winter maintenance programme starts on 14 October 2023 with the local authority geared up to treat more than 6,700km of roads.
Operations will take place from Monday to Saturday – 6am until 9pm. There is no overnight service, and on Sundays and days classed as public holidays a restricted service will be provided which starts at 7am.
The fleet includes 105 gritters, 42 footpath tractors and over 200 staff providing winter maintenance services.
The council has said it has adequate salt stocks for the region of 34,000 tonnes for the start of the main winter season and that there are no concerns about future provision of deliveries from the council’s supplier
Chair of the Highland Council’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “We have the supplies and resources in place to provide a winter service according to the Council’s policy.
“Council roads and pavements are gritted as specified within the council’s agreed winter maintenance policy. Details of the council’s highland wide and local area gritting policies and maps are on the council’s website.”
However, he added: “Salting will not prevent roads from icing up in extreme conditions. This is particularly relevant on low traffic roads where there are insufficient vehicle movements to aid the interaction between the salt and the ice crystals so we urge drivers to be extra careful driving in these conditions.”
The Council has advised that:
• Drivers should take account of prevailing weather and road conditions.
• Winter weather conditions within the Highlands can be very localised.
• Black ice can be a particular danger. You cannot see it and it can still be there even after treatment.
• Dawn frosts can also catch drivers unaware. At first light a clear sky will allow heat to radiate quickly from the road surface causing icy patches to form on wet or damp roads.
Community groups, volunteer groups and individuals who require further information or are wanting to access the Winter Resilience Programme can contact their area roads office by email – details are available on the council’s website.
Glenelg Ferry season end early due to weather and dwindling numbers
The Glenelg to Skye turntable ferry service has closed for the year ahead of its expected end of season.
The popular attraction was due to finished for the year on Sunday 15 October but the operators said that it could not continue to run until then due to most unfavourable weather and drastically dwindling passengers numbers.
Early this year from the MV Glenachulish vessel, which was built in 1969, received a red wheel emblem from the National Transport Trust to acknowledge it status as the last turntable ferry in the UK.
Portree Medical Centre staff raise £2,000 for MacMillan
Local community members including business owners, and staff from Portree Medical Centre have raised £2,000 for a leading cancer charity
Funds from the coffee morning held in Portree on Saturday 30th September will go directly to the MacMillan team here on Skye.
The team at the Portree Medical Centre put on record their thanks to everyone involved for their “fabulous support in making the coffee morning such a huge success.”
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