Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes says she understands local concerns about renewable projects but insists she is unable to attend a meeting of MPs and MSPs in August
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has said confirmed she does understand the concerns around renewable infrastructure in the Highlands but is unable to attend a meeting of MPs and MSPs organised for August.
Community Councils arranging the convention on August 12 in Inverness have urged the MSP for Skye, Baenoch and Lochaber to reconsider after she told them she already has a meeting that day.
The convention, the second to be held, will bring together representatives of more than 50 community councils from across the region alongside at least 10 of the region’s MPs and MSPs.
The first convention took place in Beauly in June and was attended by hundreds of community representatives and residents. It agreed to a joint statement calling for a pause on major energy infrastructure developments sweeping the region.
The move comes amid ongoing frustration that many local views are essentially being ignored and renewable projects are being imposed on the region from above with very little tangible benefit.
Ms Forbes said: “I recognise the importance of community voices, which is why I have previously met with most, if not all, of my constituency’s community councils which are affected by significant energy infrastructure developments.
“I have met on a number of occasions with the community councils from Skye. I have arranged several meetings with representatives of all five local community councils in Beauly last year with SSEN and separately with OfGem.
“I’ve also written to both the UK and Scottish Governments, as well as the Highland Council, to convey the strength of feeling and questions about the developments.
“I recognise the widespread local concerns, as well as the need to upgrade the electricity network for domestic residents and businesses who are waiting years and paying a small fortune to access the grid.
“Unfortunately, I am unable to meet with the convention due to pre-arranged meetings in Skye on that date, however my previous, numerous meetings with the individual community councils demonstrates the importance I attach to this issue.”
The Chair of the convention, Highland Councillor Helen Crawford, said: “Kate Forbes, as Deputy First Minister, is the most senior of our Highland parliamentarians and it is incredibly important that she attends, takes questions, and makes a contribution.
“Pretty well every other Highland MP and MSP from all parties have agreed to take part and she will be sorely missed if she doesn’t attend.
“While I appreciate that she is busy, this is an unprecedented grassroots local event with representatives from community councils representing 70,000 people participating.
“Community councils from Skye itself have urged Ms Forbes to re-arrange her Skye event because of the importance of the convention.
“We really need to hear from Kate directly what her response is to the unified statement from the first convention. Frankly, there is already a growing resentment across our communities here in the Highlands that they are being routinely ignored and, having missed the first convention, this gives her an opportunity to redress that impression.
“For democracy to work we need our elected representatives to make themselves available and engage directly with the people they were elected to represent.
“This convention is a means to that end and I very much hope that Kate will reconsider, and join her parliamentary colleagues in Inverness when we convene on 12th August.”