A controversial bombshell was fired into the public arena on Tuesday
evening when it was claimed that the lease granted by the Stornoway Trust
to windfarm developer Lewis Wind Power (LWP) to drive forward a renewable
energy project on the Island, means that the Stornoway Trust has agreed to
surrender their status as crofting landlord to that company.
And that management decisions concerning estate lands such as, agreement to
an apportionment, enlarging a common grazing or creating a new one,
granting or renewing a lease or selling ground could not happen without
getting the consent of the owners of Lewis Wind Power.
The views on the details of the lease terms were made on the website
‘Hebrides Writer’ (http://www.hebrideswriter.com/) by guest author Lewis
Kermack, a retired solicitor with extensive experience in the Land Court.
The information laid out in the blog brought a storm of protest via
Facebook comments from the public with many critising the Stornoway Trust
in its handling of the lease agreement.
However this morning (Thursday) the Stornoway Trust, fired back at the
claims via its own Facebook page, detailing: “The Trust is aware that there
have been some misconceptions circulating in regard to the nature, duration
and terms of the lease agreement with Lewis Wind Power.
“These are easily addressed.
“The lease is for a period of 35 years: 25 years of generation, followed by
a 5-year decommissioning period. It was believed at the outset that 5 years
would adequately cover the initial development phase. However, had the wind
farm been built in under 5 years, this would have then triggered the
25-year phase, in parallel with planning consent.
“The lease also contains a standard option for renewal. This would be at
the Trust’s discretion.
“LWP would require to go through the whole repowering process from the
beginning – obtaining planning consent, grid connection, a power purchase
contract, agreeing terms with crofters and, crucially, consultation with
the community. By that juncture, it is intended that the community will own
a 20%+ stake in the wind farm, which will, of course, inform its
decision-making on any future lease.
“Built into the current lease is the safeguard that ALL crofting
jurisdiction remains with the Trust as landlord. The only right made over
to Lewis Wind Power in the lease is the right to build a wind farm on
Stornoway Trust land.
“The leasee relinquished its interest in the Beinn Ghrìdeag site in favour
of the Trust, in order that the landlord could then grant permission for
Point and Sandwick Trust to build their wind farm there.
“Provision was also included that, within the lease period, each township
could build turbines generating up to 4mw of power. The only condition
attached was that these should not prejudice the leasee’s ability to
generate the rent they had pledged to the crofters.”
The statement concluded: “If LWP had become the landlord, why would
Stornoway Trust continue to hold democratic elections? Trustees are
returned in order to oversee the sustainable management of a community
estate. There is, therefore, no doubt regarding the identity of the
landlord: this estate remains entirely under the ownership of the Stornoway
Trust.”
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