Free gifts can’t disguise real issues
Just when you think SSEN couldn’t stoop any lower to ingratiate themselves into the communities they want to spear their unnecessary industrial junk into they, like many a wind farm developer before them, offer a mere pittance to children as some kind of publicity seeking “goodwill” gesture.
Nobody begrudges the young and vulnerable all the help and Christmas treats they can get but this growing practice by private wealthy multinationals of offering “gifts” to get cheap media promotion prior to planning application decisions is just wrong.
By all means SSEN, give the children 250 toys (probably worth about a tenner each) for Christmas, but do it privately, without fanfare or looking for that photo opportunity to make out you are the good guys, because in the grand scheme of things you are most certainly not.
The average person on the street gives to charity far more relative to their income and situation but doesn’t seek any kind of payment in return or a media pat on the back.
What SSEN is proposing is causing distress and mental health issues across the north of Scotland. It will devalue properties by thousands of pounds and crash the natural social progression of rural housing from the older members of communities to families, because people cannot afford to sell for a reduced price – if they can sell at all.
It will adversely impact the tourism industry, the lifeblood of many communities, by spearing their massive cheaper Chinese-produced hardware into our precious and iconic landscapes for their profit. Not ours, theirs.
Our energy bills will continue to rise as to increase overland transmission capacity to encourage thousands more onshore wind turbines for the Scottish Government’s own onshore wind policy – as confirmed by SSEN and Ofgem – with NO guaranteed customers simply means a bigger bottleneck of wind energy than we have now and constraints will spiral even more out of control.
Constraints to switch off turbines in times of low demand is currently almost £2 billion – all added to our energy bills.
The tsunami of battery storage proposals pouring into already flooded local authority planning departments will cost us MORE in the long run as the energy trading developers will buy super cheap energy when the over-deployed wind fleet actually performs, and hang onto it until they can sell at a grossly inflated price when it doesn’t.
Our energy bills will not be coming down while this race by Big Energy to build more volatile and expensive weather-dependent energy far from the point of need is allowed to continue.
The policymakers in Holyrood need to give their heads a wobble and take some independent advice from engineers and economists because right now companies think them buying a few stuffed toys is reason enough for us to say: “Welcome all, come on in to Scotland. Trash our environment for your shareholders just like the colonisers have done in the past, and are still doing, all over the developing world for renewables are being encouraged by your lack of knowledge and lack of interest in what your constituents are telling you.
Roll on the Holyrood elections because the fence sitters, the voiceless, the action-lite and the arrogant dismissive MSPs need to understand that they will be vigorously campaigned against by those they have failed to serve. It is time for the people to take back control.
Lyndsey Ward
Spokeswoman for Communities B4 Power Companies
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Thanks for your help in 2024
As we look ahead to 2025, I’d like to thank all volunteers, fundraisers and supporters of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland in the Highlands for giving their time, effort, skills and donations to our organisation throughout the year, that help us to ensure that we reach the one in five people living with our conditions.
This year marked the first year of delivering our refreshed No Life Half Lived strategy to ensure people across Scotland living with our conditions can live their lives fully with the right support, at the right time and in the right place.
In the first year we have supported more than 527,000 people via our direct services, health information and educational resources. Without your support, this just wouldn’t be possible.
Whether you supported us by taking part in one of our many fundraising events such as the Forth Bridge Abseil or Walk the Loch, holding your own fundraiser, taking the time to volunteer in one of our shops, supporting ours service users, or donating your pre-loved items to our stores, your hard work makes a difference to the 1.1 million people living with one of our conditions in Scotland.
You’ve played a part in raising £13.5 million which allows us to support the one in five people across Scotland living with a chest, heart and stroke condition and Long Covid to live life to the full.
We also understand the power of simple actions. A cup of tea and a meaningful conversation can be the first step in a recovery journey. Our Advice Line answered almost 3000 calls this year, providing support and guidance often when its needed most.
Readers who wish to speak to someone about living with chest, heart or stroke conditions or Long Covid, or find out more about support available, can contact our advice line on freephone 0808 801 0899 or email adviceline@chss.org.uk
Together we can ensure there is no life half lived in Scotland.
Jane-Claire Judson
Chief executive
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland
Dell McClurg was among several Highlanders recognised in the New Year Honours.
Community stalwart among those honoured
Community-spirited stalwarts across the Highlands have been recognised in the New Year Honours list, among them Dell McClurg (74), from Merkinch in Inverness, who was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to wildlife and the community. A member of the community council for over four decades and chairwoman for 13 years she encouraged support for the Friends of Merkinch Local Reserve as well as being an active supporter and campaigner for the site.
“Well done Dell, you so deserve this award for your many years of dedicated work in the community.” – Sheila Johnston
“Well done Dell McClurg, you deserve some recognition for all you do.” – Karen Kean
“Delighted for you Dell McClurg, glad all your hard work is being recognised.” – Yvonne Thain
“Dell deserves any accolade going. She’s been doing stuff for the community for decades.” – Hugh Morgan
“Delighted that Dell’s commitment and love for Merkinch area and its people have been recognised.” – Maureen Milligan
Letters should be submitted to newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk. Please include your address and a daytime contact number. You can also tweet us: @InvCourier or leave a comment on Facebook @invernesscourier