Dissent over biofuels plant.
Arran Community Council moved from the Ormidale Pavilion to Brodick Hall for its meeting on July 31st, in order to accommodate the large crowd of people concerned about the proposed wood-burning power station.
When NAC turned down the housing aspect of Fergus Tickell’s original plan because it was not in a ‘village envelope’, the scheme lost much of its usefulness, and the Council should look again at the implications of that decision. Many detailed questions were asked about filters and about what economic benefits could be expected. Mr Tickell remained courteous and patient throughout, and apologised for his failure to build in more detailed public consultation at an earlier stage. However, as John Inglis sought to bring an end to the debate, impatience mounted, and a demand was expressed for a dedicated and more detailed meeting to discuss the proposition. The Community Council will almost undoubtedly support the communal demand for further consultation.
The development proposals for Arran’s forests will focus on recreational use, with mixed planting that will include broadleaf trees, so in the long term, the cultivation of intensive Sitka spruce will cease. However, we are entering into a concept of energy micro-generation that will – or should – see Arran using every possible way to produce its own electricity. The current scheme could possibly use the heat it produces for horticulture, and every new-built house should be equipped with the means of making its own electricity. Meanwhile, the stringent controls that Scotland imposes on generator plants are probably a trustworthy safeguard. It would be a pity to abandon a potentially useful scheme because of fears that may be unfounded.
The Biomass protest
On Tuesday 24th July, over a hundred people gathered in the Community Theatre at Arran High School to share concerns over the plans for a wood-fuelled generator proposed to be built on cleared forestry land between Lamlash and Whiting Bay. The mood was serious, concerned to establish the facts about a proposal widely felt to have been inadequately detailed in terms of its technology and possible effects.
With Maureen Smith and Steve Evans acting as co-ordinators, many contributions were made by those present. John Campbell established a rational note by stating that Arran has an obvious need to provide alternative energy, and suggested that most people present would accept that as a principle. No dissent sounded. He went on to cite cases of communities investing in alternative energy sources, and stressed that Arran has that potential. In terms of heat recovery, he could see no value in the Northern Energy scheme at present on the table.
Alan Thomson of Lamlash asked how much electricity would be produced by the scheme, and warned that the forest, unless continually replanted, would not last forever. Duncan Mulholland, who himself runs Arran Wood Fuels and has established big heating schemes for leading Arran enterprises, said things had changed in the years since the original Northern Energy scheme was put forward. In technical terms, the firm run by Fergus Tickell had ‘got it cracked – they know what they’re doing’. A cooler at ground level would mean that not all the heat produced would go up the chimney. There would be very little smoke, and a ‘plume’ would consist mostly of CO2 and water vapour. It was, Duncan said, up to the firm to decide what filters were used, but basically, modern techniques meant that the process was very clean. However, Arran was the wrong place for it.
Brenda Stewart of the Arran Community Council said it was essential to press for a full Environmental Impact Assessment. A visitor to the island, himself a mechanical engineer, had done the calculations and said the proposed scheme should produce about 20.000 megawatt hours per arrnum – enough to supply electricity to all Arran’s houses. He wanted to know if it was proposed to used the brash that was left on the ground after felling operations, and said that the emission control at present cited on Northern Energy’s website looked ‘fairly basic’. However, he added that with modern systems, it should be possible to eliminate a plume completely.
John Lamont said there was ‘not a smidgeon of benefit for Arran people’ in the current scheme, alluding to that fact that windfarm developments build in a pay-back element to benefit the local community, or in some cases, are communally owned. Concern was expressed about the effect on Arran’s roads of heavily-laden timber lorries, and it was felt that this could have an adverse impact on tourism. Duncan Mulholland pointed out that the current forestry operation is moving 45 million tons of timber a year, and suggested that local use of trees might reduce that. However, he added that despite rational arguments, he was ‘dead against’ the scheme, feeling that it was in the wrong place.
Donal Boyle said the scheme should be turned down on financial grounds. ‘If it is not what we want,’ he said, ‘tackle it at the basic level, not on grounds of particulate emission and other details.’ Howard Driver felt that a commercial company acting for its own profit could be of no benefit to Arran, and John Lamont pointed to the ‘psychological aspect’ that gave Arran the aura of a ‘clean’ island, a haven that attracted tourists because it was natural and unpolluted.
It was evident that many people present intended to be at the Arran Community Council meeting on the following Tuesday, and Bill Calderwood, ACC Secretary, said notification would be given if it was felt that the meeting should be held at a larger venue.
Please see the community council website at http://www.arrancommunitycouncil.org.uk/records.php
