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Spaceport plans to be submitted next month


By Mike Merritt

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Spaceport plans expected to be lodged next month.
Spaceport plans expected to be lodged next month.

The controversial proposals to create Britain's first vertical launch spaceport in Sutherland are to be finally submitted next month, after recently having gone back to the drawing board.

The news was given to a public meeting in Melness – the area most affected by the £17.3m scheme – on Tuesday night.

Part of the scheme, which has split the community where it is planned, has been re-designed after feedback from concerned locals and statutory consultees. It had originally been expected last month.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is heading up the Space Hub Sutherland project and has held a series of consultation meetings with local communities.

Under the auspices of Tongue, Melness and Skerray Community Council, officials from HIE gave an update at Tuesday's public meeting.

But John Williams, chairman of the Protect the Mhoine campaign group, said some locals were shocked at what was being proposed.

"HIE was unable to give any detail of the claimed 40 jobs, only that it believes they will be 'good,' and paid up to £65,000-a-year and that they will become available within five years after the first launch. But they were unable to say what or where these jobs would be," said Mr Williams.

"No detail about any aspect of the scheme was firmed up. The only claim being that any environmental damage will be mitigated - no method or methods being given.

"It was stated that safety is paramount, but again no detail was given. Nor was there any explanation of why an exclusion zone of 1800 metres radius around the site will be needed even though it will be 'safe.' Similarly there was no explanation of the sizes, durations and locations of marine exclusion zones.

"There was also no detail of how much CO2 will be released in the construction, operation or decommissioning phases, or about noise levels, times of disturbance due to night launchings or possible damage from sonic booms.

"It was claimed 3-phase power will be brought to the Mhoine and made available to residents of Melness, but when questioned it was admitted on-site generators will be needed. No explanation was given about why Melness residents may need three-phase power, nor who would fund such a power distribution?

"As an exercise in stupidity, repetition, disingenuous obfuscation and time-wasting the presentation was superb. It is obvious that the promoters of the scheme remain out of touch with the 21st century thinking on the needs of the environment or humanity's need to safeguard human and mammalian life as we may wish it to continue on this planet."

Local Highland Councillor Hugh Morrison, who attended the meeting, which attracted more than 30 people, added: "I thought it was very constructive and importantly people got to ask vital questions which will need to be answered fully for this scheme to go ahead."

HIE says that initial expectations were that around six launches a year would be made from Sutherland, “although the latest information from launch companies indicates that around 12 may be possible. Ultimately it depends on a number of factors, including the growth of the sector and the success of launch companies in winning contracts."

After the meeting, an HIE spokesman said: “The atmosphere was very positive and we hope everyone who came along now has a good understanding of how our plans are evolving and the substantial economic and community benefits we are working to deliver.

“We’re currently finalising a very comprehensive environmental impact assessment that will form a key part of our planning application to the Highland Council. This work is progressing well and our current expectation is that we will be able to submit the application by mid-February.”

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