Bill Mowat Comes Out Strongly Against North Caithness Cliffs Extension

[Bill Fernie]

Consultation On Proposed Marine Extension To North Caithness Cliffs
Ex councillor Bill Mowat has sent us this copy of his response the Scottish Natural Heritage consultation on an extension to the North Caithness Cliffs 'Special Protection Area'. At a recent meeting of Caithness councillors meeting in Wick where representatives of SNH set out what they were trying to do the councillors stated similar doubts about the extensions in Caithness at a time when the potential for marine energy was being looked at as a potentially vital component in securing future employment in the county and for the whole of Scotland and the UK in exploiting one of our biggest renewable energy sources. The Caithness councillors left the SNH representatives in no doubt that they were against the proposed extension particularly at this crucial time and in the light of he fact the SNH is a consultee in every planning application for the areas concerned and can make representations to change or alter locations and make suggestions on how to lessen perceived threats to wildlife. Opposition has been expressed by several local groups and bodies to this extension at this crucial time for marine energy developments........... Bill Fernie

The consultation by SNH ends on 22 September 2008 and can be found at http://www.snh.org.uk/about/directives/ab-dir15aa.asp Anyone wishing to make representations about the proposals needs to do it in the next two days.

Link to Bill mowats submission http://www.caithness.org/fpb/2008/se..._extension.htm

What do others think about this extension? Good thing or likely to damage the chances for Caithness to get marine energy going in the Pentland Firth?