I DIPPED in and out of viewing the full meeting of Highland Council last Thursday because I could not bear to sit and watch hours of waffle, time-wasting and blatant filibustering. I was not surprised that the motion from Councillor Helen Crawford was delayed until the majority of the councillors decided it was too late to debate and that they were off home for their tea.
Having received multiple emails asking them to vote for this motion to make the planning system fairer and more transparent regarding the plethora of Big Energy applications overwhelming our communities, they can have been in no doubt whatsoever how important this matter was to the people of the Highlands. Almost 30 community councils supported Councillor Crawford in her motion – something that is absolutely unprecedented. Many were watching the livestream and were absolutely aghast at the behaviour of some in their own council and those who allowed the circus to unfold.
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This is not a game, yet some councillors appear determined to thwart the stalwart efforts of one of their own, I believe, because of what political party she belongs to. I was informed that one councillor was asked by his local community council if he would be voting for Cllr Crawford’s motion and he allegedly said no and that he would be voting for the amendments instead. When asked what the amendments were, he said he didn’t know. This is the calibre of some of our councillors, so out of touch with Highland residents that they should probably resign.
People are fed up. Sick to their stomachs of all the planning applications from multinational energy companies bombarding where they live. As one of the founding members of Communities B4 power Companies, I am regularly contacted by distraught residents. They see their way of life destroyed, the environment around them concreted-over, trees felled, wildlife killed and displaced, their property values plummet. They realise the visual pollution is about to be accompanied by unbearable noise, potential shadow flicker and increased fire risk.
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The social structure could potentially collapse in rural areas. Older people who wanted to sell their larger rural homes and move closer to villages find they are trapped with a grossly devalued property. They can’t afford to sell or maintain their home and they can’t move and free up the larger property for waiting families.
To continue to ignore the mental health issues unfolding because of rampant industrialisation in rural communities is as disgusting as what played out in the Highland Council chamber last Thursday. There is a sea change happening in our communities across the Highlands right now, and those councillors settled on their comfy seats can be assured that if they do not pick a side and stand up for us they may well find themselves ejected in 2027.
Lyndsey Ward
Spokeswoman for Communities B4 Power Companies
IN addition to Alan Riach’s excellent piece on John Maclean (September 23), it should be noted how Maclean reinvented himself. All his biographers including his daughter Nan Milton wrote that his father and mother were victims of the Highland Clearances and his father left Mull as a result.
Actually John’s father and grandfather were potters from Bo’ness and his great grandfather was a labourer there – no mention of Mull.
His grandmother was a Gaelic speaker from Corpach but his mother lived with her grandfather in Liandally, Kilmonivaig, while her father John MacPhee looked for work near Paisley. She followed on later with her mother, John’s grandmother, not evicted as Nan Milton et al have written.
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John’s father, grandfather and brother were all called Daniel and each one signed his name as “Daniel McLean”. John chose to change that and became the first in at least three generations to spell his name “Maclean”.
His mother also declared in census returns that only her mother spoke Gaelic, the rest of the family did not.
None of this detracts from the greatness of the man but should be kept in mind when reading the numerous biographies.
Jim McLean
London
THE various references in the media recently regarding the 60th anniversary of the Forth Road Bridge have reawakened some interesting memories from long ago.
I can recall quite clearly driving through Dunfermline the evening before the bridge was due to be opened, seeing all the new approach roads closed off by bollards and wondering what actually lay beyond these obstructions.
It proved very easy to find out.
Just move a bollard a little, drive through, close it behind you and drive on down to the Bridge, and there it all was.
We dared not drive on to the bridge itself, but moved the cones to get on to the northbound carriageway then reverse a little and there we were on the new bridge.
A very happy memory to bring back into focus. Then all we had to do was find our way back out without ever seeing another soul.
George M Mitchell
Dunblane
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