HIAL’s Preferred Control Centre Location ‘Disappointing’

Responding to HIAL’s announcement that Inverness is the preferred location for a proposed remote towers control centre, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Chairman of Transportation and Infrastructure, Cllr Uisdean Robertson, said:

“Whilst it comes as no great surprise it is nevertheless disappointing that Inverness is the preferred location for the remote towers control centre.  If this goes ahead there will be a loss of high quality jobs in the islands, both in Benbecula and Stornoway. I think at the very least such a decision would be contrary to the principle of ‘Island Proofing’, contained in The Islands Bill which recently came into effect. The loss of well paid jobs and the economic impact on Island areas would be disproportionately higher in the Islands and I would call on our MSP and the Scottish Government to demand that HIAL look at this again. The Islands Bill states clearly that Island Impact Assessments should be a part of the decision making process. Where is the evidence that any impacts on these islands was even given a passing thought? We will continue to make our voices heard and make the case to HIAL and the Scottish Government for other options to be considered.”