Community Council are urging Comhairle to accept the offer

The application for Stornoway Wind Farm is due to come before the planning committee where members will be asked to ‘give a view’ on Lewis Wind Power’s Section 36 application to the Scottish Government .

A report from planning officers to go before the committee is alleged to recommended that the Comhairle turn down the offer of a Public Inquiry and “inform Scottish Ministers that there is no public interest in holding a local Ipinquiry for the Stornoway Wind Farm application”.

Stornoway Community Council disagrees with this view, believing that there is indeed public interest in Lewis Wind Power’s new Section 36 application, which differs materially to the original approved in 2012.

It is believed that wind turbines 180m, if approved, would be the largest to be sited near a town anywhere in Scotland and the Community Council believes this needs to be examined in full.

Backing the offer of a public inquiry, Stornoway Community Council said: “We realise the issue of whether Stornoway Wind Farm should get planning consent is a big economic decision for the islands. But it is also a big decision for the town of Stornoway and one which is important to get right – for now and for future generations.”