Although Energy Minister Jim Mather refused to give a verdict at last week's Energy Summit organised by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, he did say that the announcement would be made 'sooner rather than later' and this is now expected within the next week.

The Scottish Government have remained frustratingly vague about the timescale of the decision making process and Mr Mather was urged last week to make a quick decision to allow the island to move on.

John Price from Lewis Wind Power/Amec commented on Tuesday that apart from the comments made by Mr Mather last week, they had not been given any real indication of when a final decision would be made.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Ministers refused to confirm or deny that an announcement would be made in the coming days.

The long wait for a final decision has caused frustration for islanders who have been left hanging for several months.

In January, it was reported that the Scottish Ministers were minded to refuse the application, however a final decision did not follow.

At last week's summit, MSP Alasdair Allan said that as far as he could see, the options open to the Minister were to accept an amendment to the application which would be 'a reasonably unusual situation' or to approve or reject it in its entirety.

He added that it was a 'position of great uncertainty' but that the community should find out 'fairly soon.'

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have already outlined their plan B should the application be refused and Vice Convener Angus Campbell said last week that should this happen, they would take immediate action to start negotiations with community landowners, the Development Trust and a developer to see how a new project, owned in a 50/50 manner by the community and the developer could be brought forward quickly.