Spaceport objectors 'clutching at straws', says Caithness trade union chairman
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THE Sutherland spaceport should provide "a much-needed boost" to the far north economy, according to a Caithness trade union leader.
Davie Alexander described the project – given consent by Highland Council's north planning applications committee last week – as "a very important development" and claimed objectors to the proposal were "clutching at straws".
The committee’s decision will now be referred to Scottish Government ministers for review
Mr Alexander, the chairman of Thurso and Wick Trade Union Council, stressed that jobs are needed in the area with the decommissioning of the Dounreay site.
"Nobody is going to come here offering 500 to 1000 jobs so every little bit helps," he said. "We have a skilled pool of labour who can adapt to the needs of the industry, as was done in the oil and gas sector."
"The trade council has been supportive of this plan since it was first discussed and is pleased Highland Council has backed it. We now hope it gets the go-ahead from the Scottish Government and is not called in by them. We are very keen to see this project come to fruition."
Asked about the objections to the plan, Mr Alexander pointed out that an environmental impact assessment had been carried out as part of the planning process.
"There should be no major issues," he said. "The people this will affect most will be those living in the area and there is support there.
"I think all the bases have been covered and the objectors are clutching at straws. Some of them have never been in the area."
He added: "This is a very important development for the north Sutherland community and should bring a much-needed boost to the economy. I would hope that Scottish Government will now formally endorse the council decision."
Mr Alexander was speaking after Highland councillors unanimously agreed to give planning consent to the £17.3 million spaceport in north Sutherland.
Space Hub Sutherland is proposed to be built on an area of peatland next to the A838 on the Melness Crofters Estate on the Mhoine peninsula, around six miles from Tongue.
An economic impact assessment commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) concluded that developing the spaceport could support around 250 high-quality jobs in the Highlands and Islands, including 61 in Sutherland and Caithness – 44 of them on site at Space Hub Sutherland.
HIE’s launch partner Orbex has already established a design and manufacturing facility in Forres as a base to make the innovative Prime vehicle that it plans to assemble and put into orbit from Sutherland.
The first launch could be as early as 2022. Once the spaceport is fully operational, it could host up to 12 launches a year.
Meanwhile, the campaign group Protect the Mhoine – which opposes the spaceport development – has started a petition. It is urging the Scottish Government to deny HIE planning permission for the project, "particularly as both Highland Council and Scottish Government declared a climate emergency – or was this just lip service to environmentalists?"
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