Skipness Shop Update

Update email from Tim James, forwarding relevant planning notices

• Please note there are two planning applications closing on the 3rd and 4th of April

EARRAGHAIL - Reponse Due by 3rd of April

ELECTRICITY ACT 1989 SECTION 36 AND SCHEDULE 8: APPLICATION FOR THE PROPOSED EARRAGHAIL RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE PLANNING AUTHORITY AREA OF ARGYLL & BUTE COUNCIL.   On 21 February 2022, RSK Consulting on behalf of ScottishPower Renewables (UK) Limited (SPR) (‘the Applicant’) submitted an application under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 (‘the Act’) for the Scottish Ministers’ consent to construct and operate Earraghail Renewable Energy Development, located between the villages of Tarbert to the north east and Skipness to the south, in Argyll & Bute. The proposed development will operate for a 40 year period and consist of 13 turbines at 180 metres and associated infrastructure (generating around 78MW), ground mounted solar photovoltaic array (5 MW) and battery storage (25MW).       In accordance with the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (‘the EIA regulations’) and regulations made under Schedule 8(1) to the Act, a notice detailing the application will be published in the local and national press (Edinburgh Gazette and Scotsman on 25 February 2022, and Argyllshire Advertiser/Campbeltown Courier on 25 February and 4 March 2022).  A copy of the notice, maps and application documents will also be available to view from 25 February 2022 on the Applicant’s project website at: Earraghail Renewable Energy Development - ScottishPower Renewables   The Applicant’s EIA report will be taken into consideration in determining the application. In accordance with the EIA Regulations a consultation in respect of the application must be carried out and you can review the EIA Report and associated documents online from our website which can be found at the following link: https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationDetails.aspx?cr=ECU00003421  or  www.energyconsents.scot – search – simple search – Earraghail Renewable Energy Development (ECU Reference ECU00003421)   Details of the wind turbine co-ordinates, hub height and rotor can be found at: Chapter 3 Proposed development Table 3.2 ’Wind Turbines’ and Volume 3 a Figure 3.3        The closing date for any representation you may wish to make in this case is 3 April 2022. If we have not received your comments by this date, we will assume you have no comments to make.   

You can submit your response by e-mail direct to Econsents_admin@gov.scot.       

ROWAN Wind Response by 4rd of April

THE ELECTRICITY WORKS (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) (SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 2017   ELECTRICITY ACT 1989 SECTION 36 AND SCHEDULE 8: APPLICATION FOR THE PROPOSED ROWAN WIND FARM IN THE PLANNING AUTHORITY AREA OF ARGYLL & BUTE COUNCIL.   On 3 December 2022, EnergieKontor UK Ltd (‘the Applicant’) submitted an application under section 36 of the Electricity Act 2017 (‘the Act’) for the Scottish Ministers’ consent to construct and operate Rowan Wind Farm development, approximately 4.5km north-west of Tarbert in Argyll & Bute. The proposed development will operate for 35 years and consists of 13 turbines at 200 metres, associated infrastructure and a battery energy storage compound.        In accordance with the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (‘the EIA regulations’) and regulations made under Schedule 8(1) to the Act, a notice detailing the application will be published in the local and national press. In the Edinburgh Gazette (22 February 2022), Argyllshire Advertiser (25 February and 4 March 2022) and in the Herald (21 February 2022). A copy of the Applicant’s notice, maps and Non-Technical summary will be available to view on the Application website at: www.energiekontor.co.uk/our-projects/rowan   The Applicant’s EIA report will be taken into consideration in determining the application. In accordance with the EIA Regulations a consultation in respect of the application must be carried out and you can review the EIA Report and associated documents online from our website which can be found at the following link: Scottish Government - Energy Consents Unit - Application Details    or   www.energyconsents.scot – search – simple search – Rowan Wind Farm (ECU Reference ECU00003230)   Wind turbine details (co-ordinates, hub height and rotor diameter) can be found at: Vol 1 Chapter 3 Project Description at paragraph 3.20 & 3.21.    The closing date for any representation you may wish to make in this case is 4 April 2022.  If we have not received your comments by this date, we will assume you have no comments to make.   You can submit your response by e-mail to Econsents_admin@gov.scot. 

Update from Bill McHugh -18th July 2021

Sorry for the delay in giving you an update. 

You may well have seen a headline in the local paper, I’m afraid in the words of Trump, this is false news and the situation is as follows.

I have spoken with the Scottish Land Fund; they are the body who will decide if the project goes ahead thereby releasing the funding for the purchase of the shop.

Because we have a willing seller then it makes the process slightly quicker. In principle they are saying it is the type of project they would fund.

Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust Board of Directors on the 7th of July approved the request that they be the vehicle for taking the idea of reopening the shop forward.

TSCT are in the process of updating their articles of association so no funding application can be made until these have been approved by the various bodies. This does not hold up the process too much as they are nearing the end of the process and awaiting approval from the various bodies including the Land fund.

The next stage is to apply to HIE for the funding to carry out the following:

An up-to-date valuation of the buildings and land.

Employ a consultant to help with drawing up an options appraisal and feasibility plan. Assist in a formal community consultation process. Assist in the process through the SLF and Funding bodies.

An Architect to appraise how best the buildings can be utilized and a cost for the work required. Structural Engineer and Quantity Surveyor to help develop the cost of doing the work.

As I see it, there are a couple of possibilities, subject to the feasibility and options appraisal. And the input from the Architect and other professionals.

Once purchased the property both shop and house are extended and renovated. Or they are demolished and rebuilt to a decent habitable property and a more self-contained shop. The idea behind reusing the house, as a house, means we may attract a greater pool of interested applicants. Hither to, the arrangement on the estates was that Claonaig provided the shop as it sits on their land, Skipness provided the house. We are all aware accommodation in the immediate vicinity is fairly limited.

The process of finding potential candidates would run alongside the process of purchase and renovation so that someone was ready to take over the premises as soon as possible after completion of the project. There are already interested parties in running the shop.

The property will be leased to the successful applicant with the proviso that the basic needs of the community are catered for, first, thereafter they are free to run the shop in whatever way they wish whatever they need to do to earn a living. It may well be we can establish the Post Office also.

My biggest concern is that once all of this has been done and we have a shop, we do not find an applicant or it falls through in some way. Currently I have had an expression of interest from one couple.

It will be unlikely I feel but I must think about a contingency plan. There has been a suggestion of a portacabin with vending type machines at the back of the store instead of opening the shop back up, I don’t think that would fly but would be a good backup plan IN THE SHOP if all else fails.

If anyone has any suggestions then please let me know and they can be put into the mix.

I have a number of people who are willing to help and will call upon them as and when. 

Will keep you abreast as and when things develop.

Comments to Bill McHugh mchugh1951@outlook.com