I feel compelled to share what I experienced at a Public Hearing held in Rosehall between 4.30pm and 6.30pm on Thursday, 26th October 2023. For me, it seemed like one of those moments in history. I am privileged to have witnessed it and feel immensely proud of the community who played a major role in it.
As I drove up to Rosehall and Strath Oykel on my way to this Public Hearing to support the local community and its people in their fight against yet another application for yet another wind farm development that would bring yet more destruction to their community, the overriding feeling I had as I passed through the area was one of complete disbelief. I asked myself why anyone would even consider putting a wind farm in such a beautiful part of the world. As the road narrowly wound its way deeper and deeper into nature, it felt totally insane that anyone would submit such an application; more so that anyone would even consider it. Any further applications for this area should be filed in the bin! Unfortunately as we know, this unchecked insanity is being allowed to continue all over Scotland, with one submission after the other. It is incessant. Which is why we have learned that, if we don’t stand up for nature, or defend ourselves and our communities, we will lose more than we could ever have imagined!
After three days of the “Hearing” with two Government reporters, representatives from Highland Council, witnesses and the applicant, EnergieKontor, questioning and cross examining, it was the turn of the local community to have their say. It was time to let the Government reporters know how they felt, why they were fiercely objecting and what this application would do to them and their community if allowed to go ahead. Bearing in mind there are already two wind farms in the area and an additional two have (unbelievably!) received permission to go ahead, you might think they would have done their bit, done enough to help the cause already. But no! This community has been under attack for years, fighting energy companies and developers to defend what they hold dear. Now, due to further rejections by Highland councillors for this fifth wind farm, a public enquiry had been triggered. Finally, the local community had the chance to stand up and be heard.
I had attended the Hearing on a previous day, to show support for the people. They were having to defend themselves against a billion-dollar energy corporation and, on that day, the applicant (EnergieKontor) was represented by a team of seven - more than double the number on the other side! It was evident the aim was to push this application through, regardless of any opposition. The kindest words I can use to describe the way in which the applicant came across while I was there are bullish, arrogant and demeaning. Earlier in the day, a representative of NOROS (No Ring Of Steel) had raised a concern that there had been a request/attempt by a party or parties at the Hearing to cut short or prevent the community from speaking fully. The response from the community was a flat NO WAY! They said they would either speak in full or not speak at all! The request to curtail their speaking time was subsequently withdrawn, and so around 15 people from the community, statements in hand, were ready.
There were retired people, mothers, wives, landowners, a partially sighted lady and a son speaking for his parents. They were both extremely well spoken and salt of the earth. They had been born here, married here, bereaved here and were raising their kids here. They had moved here to find their forever slice of heaven. They worked on the river, in the river, on the land, in hotels and a school. They rescued people from the mountains, they warmly welcomed visitors, fisherman, walkers and wedding parties. They nurtured wildlife and offered eco-friendly alternatives to wind power. They’d suffered personal tragedy on the roads. They all supported each other, helped each other, their community was living and breathing. They spoke for the community members that could not speak. The white tailed eagles, pine martins, red squirrels, bats, countless birds, salmon, trout, the pristine river, the protected fresh water pearl mussels and they did so with deep love, but also in a way a very protective parent would if their family was under threat. They knew all about turbines. They reminded us of the number of times the application had been rejected. The people had said no, businesses had said no, Highland and local councillors had said no (in fact, twice no!) How many colours of no did the reporters need? They told us how the application hadn’t mentioned that the developer intended to ride roughshod through their paddocks, land and gardens to get to the site and hadn’t once asked anyone if that was ok. They told us the developer had said not to worry as the turbines would be masked by trees. “What kind of trees can hide structures over 200m tall?”, they asked. They spoke of all the good they could be doing if their backs weren’t being broken by the enormous weight of stress, worry, fear and sadness that had become all-consuming as they constantly fought off application after application from energy companies hungry to reap the benefits of mis-guided government policies. They spoke of the silence that had been lost and the tangible negative effects that the existing wind farms were causing to their health now and how this would go off the scale with two new wind farms. They talked about the noise, the flicker, the loss of dark skies, the construction, the concrete, the pollution, the loss of protected species, the end of the river, the reduction in visitors, no more weddings, no more pipers, no more viable businesses, no more community.
They spoke with tears, clenched fists, anger, disbelief. They made us laugh, they pleaded, they spoke with direct force, they pleaded some more.
All through, from start to finish, they held themselves with such incredible decorum. They were polite, respectful and assertive, but also composed, intelligent, direct, supportive and caring of each other. A community is something most of us only remember from history. They have one here, now. Each thanked the reporters for giving them the chance to speak, for listening to them, and the reporters did listen. On the previous day I had attended, the reporters seemed very heads down, had little eye contact. As the people spoke they engaged with their eyes and ears and, at times, expressions. They were human. They were formally thanked for showing empathy and listening, and everyone applauded the reporters as a sign of gratitude.
The Applicant at the end was asked if he would like to comment, to question the people…………………
The Applicant declined with a reply that showed no humility. I don’t believe he could have asked any questions or cross examined any of the people in person, as at that moment, I don’t think there was a person in the room who wouldn’t have happily stood up and put him on his arse if he’d tried.
What is so cruel though, is that the reporters are still gathering information and will only submit their report to government ministers in February. They were honest in telling us this and in saying they had no control over how long the government ministers would sit on it before making a decision. I believe it is criminal that the torture continues for these lovely people and their beautiful community and strath. Another six months or more of stress worry and fear, all caused by this out-of-control, unchecked energy industry that is driven by profit and hiding behind questionable and meaningless catchphrases.
To the people of Strath Oykel and wider community …I salute you.
To the ministers responsible…..you had better think very, very, seriously about your decision.
……………..
THE REACTION
Since I posted my messages of support to the people of Strath Oykel online, the response and outpouring has been powerful and filled with emotion. There have been other messages from the same community telling their personal stories with words that will either make you reach for the tissues or grit your teeth. Backing has come from all corners, with people sending wishes of support, not just from Scotland, but from all over the UK and further afield to say we are with you. People have shared my tribute in Welsh. One particular person shared it with his community, also under threat, and said, “Important , read this we are not alone”……Powerful words that say so much about what they and their communities are going through as they try to protect both themselves and the nature around them, which cannot speak for itself.
