Although the Pairc Community Council have told Scottish Hydro-Electric Transmission Ltd that the proposal to locate the converter station at Gravir is 'total unacceptable', SHETL appear to have ruled out alternative proposals suggested by the community.

The Community Council had indicated to SHETL a preference for the converter station to be moved to Arnish, and also pointed out that the owner of the Eishken Estate, Nicholas Oppenheim had stated his willingness to locate the converter station on his Eishken Estate.

But SHETL have stated in a letter to the Community Council: "We considered locating the converter stations at Arnish but it would require the construction of a large line of transmission towers (pylons) to link Arnish and the windfarm developments in Pairc and Eishken. The environmental effects of such a line were considered to be greater than those associated with the proposed development."

They also stated: "The offer to locate the converter station in Eishken was known to us and, again, was considered. Unfortunately, this required taking a much longer subsea cable through Loch Sealg, or a longer land cable through Gravir and Glen Gravir.

"Both options were assessed to have greater environmental impacts than the proposed development," they stated.
The company said that pedestrians would not have to share the road with construction vehicles during the development.

"A roads assessment has been completed and, whilst the roads are structurally sound, you are correct in your assessment that construction vehicles would be likely to damage the edges of the narrow roads.

"This is being discussed with the roads authority and we would ensure that the roads are left in a condition at least as good as they are today. We propose the construction of a pavement, with street lighting, to avoid the need for pedestrians to share the roadway with construction vehicles within the village," they added.

SHETL representatives will face the Pairc community at a meeting later this month.