Muirhall responds to Glen Ullinish 2 community benefit concerns

The last of four public events will be held in Dunvegan about the Glen Ullinish 2 wind farm proposed for Skye.

If approved by Scottish ministers, the wind farm would comprise 47 wind turbines with maximum tip heights of 200 and replace the existing Glen Ullinish Wind Farm.

Lesley McNeil is the head of external and corporate affairs for Muirhall Energy.

Speaking to Radio Skye, she said that the financial benefits to the community were greater than the industry standard recommended.

Ms MacNeil said that Muirhall would offer an investment package of £7,000 per megawatt of maximum usable capacity as opposed to the Scottish Government’s guidance of £5,000 per installed MW per annum

However, several bodies across the island, including the Portree and Braes Community Trust are calling for a public inquiry to be held to assess the cumulative impact of all the wind farm developments proposed for Skye.

The Trust has asked that the inquiry consider community benefit from wind farms be delivered in the form of five per cent of turnover and accessible to the whole of Skye and Raasay.

The final of four public drop-ins is taking place at Dunvegan Village Hall from 11am to 3pm today (Thursday 24th August).

Housing minister pledges to tackle rural and island issues

The Scottish Housing Minister has said the government is committment to deliver at least 11,000 new affordable homes in rural and island areas by 2023.

Speaking during a visit to Auchtercairn development in Gairloch, Wester Ross, housing minister Paul MacLennan said that good
quality housing was essential to attract and retain people in remote, rural and island communities.

He said that the Scottish Government has committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 – with at least 10 per cent in remote, rural and island areas.

During his visit, Mr MacLennan also announced that up to £960,000 provided through a join fund would help deliver affordable home and facilities in remote and rural areas.

Mr MacLennan said the Goverment would be providing support totalling £30 million over this parliament through its Rural and Island Housing Fund.

Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnstone, however, has raised questions about the Scottish Government’s rural housing fund, which he argues should be urgently re-evaluated.

According to Parliamentary Question S6W-14348, just 32 affordable homes were built in 2022-23.

Commenting on how housing issues are being acutely felt across the Highlands and Islands, Mr Halcro Johnstone said: “A thriving rural economy relies on young people to be able to live and work locally, and their active participation in community life is vital.

“However, this current housing crisis is depriving our rural areas of this important demographic”.

A remote, rural and islands housing action plan is also set to be published in this autumn.

Sixty vehicles stopped during NC500 safety patrols

Sixty vehicles were stopped on the NC500 during recent safety patrols carried out by the Highlands and Island Road Policing Officers.

The patrols which were carried out as part of Operation CEDAR – (Challenge, Educate, Detect and Reduce) took place on the 19th and 20th August.

During these patrols, 60 vehicles were stopped by officers, which included 12 drivers being reported for speeding, driving licence, insurance and document offences. Several drivers were also given safety advice.

Road Policing Constable Rhuaraidh Mackay said, “These proactive patrols emphasise our commitment to improving road safety across the Highlands and Islands area.

He added: “All of the offences detected during these patrols contribute to collisions where people are injured, and we encourage people to use the road responsibly.”

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Glen Ullinish 2 public drop-ins announced for Skye

The company behind plans to site 47 wind turbines up to 200 metres high on Skye is to host four public engagement events later this month

Today, Muirhall Energy Limited announced that it will hold four public drop-ins between 22nd and 24th August starting at Minginish Community Hall, then Struan Primary School, the Skye Gathering Hall in Portree, and finishing up at the Dunvegan Village Hall.

The events will focus on Muirhall plans for its Glen Ullinish 2 Wind Farm near Struan.

On Monday, renewables company Muirhall Energy Limited submitted a planning application for the wind farm to Scottish Ministers.

If approved, the wind farm would comprise 47 wind turbines with maximum tip heights of 200 metres with an indicative output capacity in the region of 310.2 Megawatts (MW), and replace the existing Glen Ullinish Wind Farm, turbines

Muirhall said the events will allow their team to answer any question people may have about the proposal.

During the consultation period a full copy of the application documentation will be available for viewing at Portree Community Library and a further copy available at Struan Primary School – access can be requested through Struan Community Council,

A full copy of the application documentation will be uploaded to to the Muirhall website by Friday 4th August

However, Muirhall have emphasised that comments made to the project team at the drop-ins will not be representations to the Scottish Ministers.

Raigmore Hospital “under intense pressure” says NHS Highland

NHS Highland is advising anyone requiring non-life-threatening urgent care to call NHS24 amid intense pressure on Raigmore Hospital

In an status update, the local health authority said the Highland capital hospital is extremely busy with a number of patients requiring unexpected admission.

A spokesperson for NHS Highland said it was working hard to accommodate these patients safely but added that it may involved moving more stable patients to other wards or hospitals.

For urgent care, that is non-life-threatening, NHS Highland advise to call 111 for the NHS 24 service.

Scottish Water apologise for Roag supply issues

Scottish Water has today apologised to customers in north West Skye who have experience issues with their water supply or pressure.

A spokesperson for the statutory body, said it wished to apologise to customers in Roag who have experienced lower than normal water pressure or intermittent supply as a result of a burst water main.

The Scottish Water representative said that its team had located the source of the problem on Tuesday morning, and the affected section of main was bypassed to restore normal service to as many of the affected customers as possible.

A full repair is currently in progress.

The spokesperson said that that a £3.5 million investment by Scottish Water to renew the water network serving the area would significantly reduce the risk of customers expericing similar disruption to their water supply in the future.

Social care minister in Skye for National Care Service forum

Scottish Government social care minister Maree Todd visited south Skye today take part in forum on plans for a National Care Service

The forum has been taking place in An Crubh in Sleat.

The events, which are taking place across Scotland, are aimed at people with experience of accessing or delivering social care support so they can help design a National Care Service that best meets the needs of the people who use it.

The goal of the National Care Service is to future-proof the social care sector for generations to come – and for people coming into the profession.

Strathpeffer Community Centre will also host a forum next week on Tuesday 8th August.

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