Sutherland’s lead councillor Richard Gale hopes for ‘financial compensation’ after Orbex puts Sutherland Spaceport on ice
The chairman of Sutherland County Committee has said he hopes “financial compensation will be forthcoming” following Orbex's decision to put Sutherland Spaceport on ice.
A £14.6 financial package was approved for the spaceport project, with more than £9 million coming from HIE, of which £3 million came from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, and £2.55 million from the UK Space Agency. The Scottish Government also provided funding.
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Cllr Richard Gale, who represents the East Sutherland and Edderton ward and chairs the area committee, said: “Let’s not forget the investment from the public purse in the project, especially through HIE, who have invested millions of taxpayers money.
“I sincerely hope that some financial compensation will be forthcoming.”
Cllr Gale said he had been “really disappointed” to hear that Orbex would not be proceeding with Sutherland Spaceport at this time after “years of development and community support”.
He continued: “This is a real blow to the community with the promise of good, high-tech jobs being lost to the area. It is also a setback to the drive to reverse the depopulation of the county.
