Decision tomorrow on planning consent or not for Spaceport – and Boris gives his support
Highland councillors are due to decide tomorrow whether or not to give planning consent to the £17.3 million spaceport at the Mhoine, north Sutherland.
The ambitious plan, which will see rockets carrying satellites fired vertically into space, is set to go before members of the north planning applications committee.
Background reports were made public at the start of this week when it emerged that planning officials have recommended that the development be granted planning permission.
The space hub proposal is being put forward by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the local authority has received 457 objections and 118 representations of support.
Local community councils have supported the project because it is expected to bring an economic boost to the area. And prime Minister Booris Johnston has added his support.
But only last week campaign group Protect The Mhoine (PTM) cast doubt on the number of local jobs the development would create and warned that a ‘one-sided argument’ was being presented in its favour.
Both the local constituency politicians – Jamie Stone in Westminster and Gail Ross in Holyrood – are huge supporters of the project.
Mr Stone said: “I am strongly for the project. As someone who in the past worked at Nigg, I know the only way to stop the depopulation of the Highlands is to offer high quality employment and for my generation in Easter Ross this was Nigg.
“One of the biggest issues I have to deal with is how to replace the high quality jobs at Dounreay as it continues to decommission and the space launch is very much part of the answer to that.
“The launch site is within the travel to work area of many of the people who work at Dounreay and it will offer high quality employment. I think it will be an acorn from which a really good industry could develop.
“The site is almost perfect for getting satellites into orbit around the earth where you want them and the weather is far more suitable than in some of the rival sites such a Shetland or the Western Isles.
“I make no secret of the fact that I have twice already nobbled Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the passing in the House of Commons.
"Most recently I said to him that I hoped he would do everything in his power to make sure that it happens – hopefully once it gets planning permission.
“He said ‘yes, yes’ and nodded vigorously and I understand from MPs in the government that he is an enthusiastic supporter of spaceport.
“And I would be very happy to welcome him to the far north to come and see the first space launch.”
Ms Ross said: “I really want to see plans for the spaceport approved at the planning committee this week as it will bring much needed regeneration to a very fragile economic area. It will also put north Sutherland on the space map, being the first in the UK.
"There are so many opportunities that go along with this - for our young people in terms of bringing science and engineering to their doorstep and the possibility of working in the sector, for tourism and visitors to the area and for regeneration in general.
"Given the economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus, it is more important now than ever that we try and attract investment. Scotland’s space sector is expanding at a rapid pace and we have a unique opportunity to be a part of this.
"Remember, we had to watch recently as another big project in the county was rejected at the planning stage but the spaceport getting the go ahead would prove that the far north of Scotland is worthy of investment.”
One of the recommendations made by planners is that launches should be limited to 12 per year to restrict the amont of plastic and metal debris falling into the sea during rocket launches.
