Glengarry Action Group
PUBLIC MEETING COMMENTS
Venue:- Community Hall Glengarry
Date:- 18th November 2009
Venue:-
Date:-
The meeting held at the Community Hall in Glengarry, chaired by John Hutchison, went very well.
Approximately 140 people attended . Mr Tickell from NEDL and two of his colleagues came along and opened
Approximately 140 people attended . Mr Tickell from NEDL and two of his colleagues came along and opened
the meeting with a verbal and poster presentation.
Then the temporary action group gave their view with a power point presentation (presented by Mr
Alan White). This was met with powerful support from the floor.
Question time followed, which ran for over 90 minutes. Many of the questions came from people
who had not previously been informed of the proposal of NEDL..
At the end of the meeting a vote showed no-one undecided and only 5 or 6 people in favour of NEDL
and everyone else firmly against the proposal. So a HUGE vote of NO CONFIDENCE from Glengarry
Residents..With almost universal opposition to the proposal, which matches the 124 objections already
Residents..With almost universal opposition to the proposal, which matches the 124 objections already
lodged with the Planning Department in Fort William.
Some of the issues raised were:
Some of the issues raised were:
ADVERSE VISUAL IMPACT,, TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE FOR ITS LOCATION, THE HUGE SIZE OF
THE BUILDING (at the very least 3 times the size of anything in the village), CONSTANT UNNATURAL
MACHINERY NOISE in a rural setting (sleep deprivation will be a problem in nearby houses),
PROXIMITY TO THE VILLAGE CEMETERY (there were many concerned villagers on this point -
about which Mr Tickell had no comment), FUMES AND CONTAMINANTS ejected from the chimney,
TRAFFIC IMPACT on a small and peaceful village, ADVERSE EFFECT ON TOURISM - since
there are 77 full time jobs and 63 part-time jobs dependent of tourism in Glengarry and there are no
THE BUILDING (at the very least 3 times the size of anything in the village), CONSTANT UNNATURAL
MACHINERY NOISE in a rural setting (sleep deprivation will be a problem in nearby houses),
PROXIMITY TO THE VILLAGE CEMETERY (there were many concerned villagers on this point -
TRAFFIC IMPACT on a small and peaceful village, ADVERSE EFFECT ON TOURISM -
indirect or induced jobs in these figures.
Mr Tickell admitted that there would only be 3 or 4 new jobs at the plant and none of these could
be promised to locals. These jobs would be “high grade technical jobs” with the site being remotely
managed. He also agreed that the induced/indirect jobs previously mentioned by NEDL - mainly
existing jobs in transportation and forestry - would be provided by sub-contractors, not the Forestry
be promised to locals. These jobs would be “high grade technical jobs” with the site being remotely
managed. He also agreed that the induced/indirect jobs previously mentioned by NEDL -
Commission or NEDL.