Western Isles Development Trust is embarking on a series of community meetings across the Western Isles. The meetings will give an overview of the Development Trust and its initial Business Plan. The meetings will offer communities the opportunity to comment on the Business Plan and provide the Trust with an overview of their own development aspirations.

Western Isles Development Trust has been established to encourage and assist new development in the Western Isles. The Trust comprises a range of organisations and agencies and is in the process of establishing a Community Fund to support its objectives.

The bulk of the Community Fund will come from the establishment of a renewable energy industry in the Western Isles. The Trust has negotiated a significant package of benefits from proposed energy developments in order to establish a Community Fund.

Chairman of Western Isles Development Trust, Mr. Peter Carlin said: “Western Isles Development Trust has negotiated a significant community benefits package with the various renewable energy developers. The funds that come to the Trust will be dispersed to communities across the Western Isles to help them implement their own projects and to help meet local aspirations. The Trust has a range of ideas in regard to how funds can be used and we have laid these ideas out in our initial Business Plan. We now want to take that Business Plan to the community to outline our ideas.”

Mr. Carlin continued: “In addition to the Trust’s own ideas on how these funds can be expended, we are keen to engage with the community to get their thoughts and ideas on our Business Plan - Are our ideas in the right areas? Are there areas we’ve missed? Are there specific community projects that the Trust should be taking forward at an early stage?

“There are many questions and we are extremely keen to get the input of communities across the Western Isles. I would encourage anyone who is interested in understanding the benefits that renewable energy can deliver or have project ideas they believe the Trust should be taking forward to attend the meetings to bring forward their ideas and to positively join in the discussion.”

The meetings will be held as follows:-

• Breasclete Community Centre (Tuesday 6 December)
• Barvas Hall (Wednesday 7 December)
• Mermaid Suite, Caberfeidh Hotel, Stornoway (Thursday 8 December)
• Gravir School (Friday 9 December)
• Harris Hotel, Tarbert (Monday 12 December)
• Carinish Hall, North Uist (Tuesday 13 December)
• Isle of Benbecula Hotel, Benbecula (Wednesday 14 December)
• Lochboisdale Hotel (Thursday 15 December)
• Castlebay Hall (Friday 16 December).

All meetings start at 7.00pm.

For additional information on Western Isles Development Trust and the proposed community meetings, contact:

Calum Iain Maciver
01851 709594
calum.maciver@cne-siar.gov.uk

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk