YOUR VIEWS: Dim view of Highland energy stance and hitting back over Gaelic road sign safety
Manifesto misses point on energy
I refer to your story on June 15 about the Inverness Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) manifesto, a set of priorities that looks like it was copied and pasted straight from SSE.
Nowhere in this “vision” are preservation and development of the region’s two greatest assets, Nature and Culture, mentioned. Assets that will be decimated by the tsunami of applications for windfarms, battery storage facilities, 60m pylons and substations.
None of this is remotely green and it is technology that is currently being abandoned in Europe.
Its only purpose is to line the pockets of multinational energy companies and their shareholders with zero regard for our environment, culture, homes or livelihoods.
I am dismayed that new ICC chief executive Colin Marr, with his 35 year experience working in the arts, would announce such a narrowly defined plan.
The manifesto is solely focused on becoming a Big Energy transmission hub, with calls for energy storage and faster planning approvals, aiding and abetting companies who are government subsidised when their turbines are idle and stockpiling energy when the grid can’t accept it - effectively being paid twice.
No wonder there is a green greed driven goldrush on!
Nobody’s bills are reduced by this, and vast areas of the Highlands will be trashed in the process.
Nobody wants to live in an industrial wasteland and the world doesn’t come here to look at concrete.
The reduction in working age population could be addressed by developing greater cultural infrastructure such as building film production studios linked to training through UHI, greater development of hospitality through slow/ eco and wildlife tourism, history and ancestry experiences and locally produced food and drink.
The ICC needs a broader vision.
Georgina Coburn
Beauly
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Where’s the evidence on signs safety?
Full marks to Douglas Cowe's letter for the use of hyperbole (‘What’s the need for Gaelic signs?’, Letters, Courier 14/6/24) though I'd challenge his view that Gaelic/English bi-lingual road signage is “highly dangerous”.
Are we hearing the same viewpoint from Police Scotland or transport safety advisors? No. In fact, couldn't we argue instead that UK road signage is generally very clear, even bilingually - for there is very careful consideration on the most part from road authorities to ensure safety.
Besides, Ireland and Wales use bilingual signage extensively. Are we to say their road signs pose a significant danger to motorists compared to the experience ofEngland with mono-lingual signage?
If so, what evidence do we have to support this argument?
James Rorison
Skye Court
Inverness
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