Crofters in Lewis have had development applications for wind farms on their common grazings rejected this week by the Crofting Commission. The news was revealed in a statement by the Stornoway Trust, who welcomed the long awaited decision from the Crofting Commission, not to consent the Section 50B application submitted by the Grazing Committees of Melbost and Branahuie, Sandwick East Street, and Sandwick North Street. In the judgment issued to each applicant, who had sought consent to establish wind turbines on the site of the already consented Stornoway Wind Farm proposed development, the Commission explained that the proposed use would be detrimental to the interest of the Stornoway Trust as set out in Section 50B (2) of the 1993 Crofting Act. Crofters had hoped that approval for the go-ahead of their own wind farm project would realise much greater community benefits.
Stornoway Gazette 19th Sept 2018 read more »