Scottish affairs delegation told of marine energy benefit difficulties
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CAITHNESS needs to maximise benefits from the burgeoning marine energy industry to invest in infrastructure for the future.
That is the view of Landward Caithness councillor David Flear who met representatives of the Scottish affairs committee this week.
The MPs visited the Far North to look at the operation of the Crown Estate in Scotland.
At present, any benefits raised from seabed leases go to the Treasury and are distributed through a block grant.
However, Mr Flear said these benefits are not visible in the region and, considering the area will play an important part in the country’s renewable industry, it needs to see more coming its way.
"We explained the difficulties with the Crown Estate and the lack of the benefits that are visible in area with regards to community benefits and socioeconomic issues," he said.
"I was confident that they took our concerns on board and the committee will pick up the issues from the people who they have spent time with."
The MPs were focussing on examining how the Crown Estate can best act in the public interest and its relationship with local communities which are directly affected by the decisions it makes.
They also investigated how employment and enterprise are being sustained in the present economic difficulties.
Mr Flear said if the Crown Estate passed benefits onto the Scottish Government, which would filter these into local authorities, the area would be better off.
"If the benefits were filtered through to the local authority, it would have a positive, knock-on effect in Caithness and Orkney," he said.
"We’ve got possibility some of the largest renewable technology going to be placed in our waters. Especially with the decommissioning of Dounreay, it is important that we make sure that we get any benefits out of it locally."
