Business

Representatives of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have met with OFGEM officials as part of a ‘Final Needs Case’ consultation on a new interconnector to the Western Isles.

The Bragar and Arnol Community Trust has announced today (Tuesday) that a contractor has been appointed to undertake the redevelopment of Grinneabhat on the West Side of Lewis.

Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil has written to Home Secretary Sajid Javid calling for the UK Government’s Seasonal Workers Pilot scheme to be extended to include the fishing industry.

Earlier this month, Cnoc Soilleir, an innovative joint venture between Lews Castle College UHI and Ceòlas Uibhist to establish a new building for education, Gaelic language and the arts, reached a new milestone.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has written to Minister for Energy and Islands, Paul Wheelhouse MSP to underline the urgent need for investment in new ferries for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service network over and above the commitment to build the two ferries at Ferguson Marine Engineering that are now set to be at least two years late before they enter service.

Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan raised the issue of an interconnector to the Western Isles with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during this week’s session of First Minister’s Questions.

Highlands and Islands Regional MSP Rhoda Grant has ascertained by means of a Freedom of Information request that the MV Loch Seaforth, which sails between Stornoway and Ullapool, has had to cancel 68 sailings due to adverse weather between July and December 2018.

The most ‘Instagrammable’ selfie spots in the Islands have been mapped in a new tool to attract visitors to the Western Isles.

At the recent Scottish Labour Party Conference in Dundee, Western Isles delegate, Donald MacKinnon took to the stage to highlight how important European Union community-led local development funding has been to the Western Isles economy and that there is an urgent need for clarity on the continuation of these funding streams post-Brexit.

A senior councillor has criticised Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for its handling of the development of renewables in the Western Isles.

Western Isles Parliamentary Labour candidate, Alison MacCorquodale has called for “a united voice” from the Western Isles in response to the interconnector consultation launched by Ofgem, the energy regulator.

Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan has reacted to today’s announcement from OFGEM that it is minded to reject SSEN’s proposals for a 600MW link to the Western Isles and instead proposes a smaller 450MW connection.

Scottish Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has expressed concern following the release of figures which indicate that the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) is to receive the worst financial settlement of any local authority in Scotland, while rates paid by businesses in the islands are forecast to rise by 10%.

Following the news that Government energy regulator Ofgem is minded to reject a proposal to build a 600MW subsea cable across the Minch to the Western Isles and instead favours a 450MW cable due to costs, Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant said the move was “totally shortsighted”.

Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil has reacted with dismay to the announcement by Ofgem that they are minded to reject the proposal by SSEN to build a 600MW transmission link to the Western Isles and favour instead a 450MW link.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has noted its “extreme disappointment” in regards to the energy regulator OFGEM’s preference for a 450MW interconnector link to the Western Isles rather than a 600MW capacity cable.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is calling on the energy regulator, Ofgem, to reconsider its provisional decision on the proposed Western Isles transmission link.