Environmental Concerns

• A commercial spaceport is inappropriate in this environment.

• Scolpaig is home to many rare and endangered species and unique habitats. It should be protected, not developed upon

• An EIA has been submitted with the new application but is voluminous in extent and will take considerable time to read, digest and comment upon.

• Many people living on the islands are under the impression that should the application

  for a Sub-Orbital Spaceport planned for North Uist be granted it would mean that the

  roads servicing this proposal will be upgraded, particularly the west side link between

  Benbecula, Lochmaddy, Carinish and Scolpaig.

  The potential for upgrading the roads is seen by many as a welcome benefit of this

  type of industrial proposal. In the planning application there are many different

  documents that for the lay reader, require considerable determination to access and to

  fully understand exactly what is being proposed. Even whilst the application is under

  consideration by the Western Isle’s Council, it is difficult to gain a clear indication of

  what might come to pass in due course with regard to the everyday operation of the

  Spaceport. Some things, however are already apparent.

  The road from Carinish to Scolpaig is a single-track road with passing places. No

  upgrading whatsoever is promised for this road, which is considered to be suitable for

  the heavy loads relating to Spaceport 1. The developers have agreed only to

  contribute to any costs that may occur as a result of any damages to the road surface

  relating to the construction and operation of Spaceport 1. This of course in turn means

  that the other contribution will need to be met by the public purse (AKA our Council

  Tax). Much public money has already been invested in the purchase of the land and

  the construction of a case to build a Spaceport, and so far, nobody that I have spoken

  to can recall anybody asking if that was what our Council Tax should be spent on..

  The proposals are for 10 launches per year. Activities will likely occur when the

  weather is favorable and around 2 weeks will be needed for each ‘launch cycle’.

  Effectively our roads will be controlled by the Spaceport operatives for a minimum of

  20 weeks per year. These weeks are unlikely to occur during winter and will increase

  the seasonal development of visitor traffic currently growing each year.

  Proposals include temporary ‘Clearways’ (this promises to be an interesting concept

  on 2 –way single track roads) together with the increased Policing of restrictions

  relating to stopping or parking, and a one way-system in operation on launch days.

  Altogether a very unpleasant imposition of a range of controls guaranteed to

  ruin the quality of life of all road users on the island. In fact the Spaceport is

  supposedly so much for our benefit that:

  “ The public will not be encouraged to observe launches and dedicated traffic

  management measures will ensure a continual flow of traffic to remove opportunities

  to park in close vicinity to the site during the launch event. Observations of the launch

  will be by invitation only and only authorised personnel will be allowed to enter the

  site “

  The recent edition of ‘The Planner’ (the Business Magazine for Planning

  Professionals) mentions Spaceport 1 at Scolpaig as a site that ‘is suitably remote

  for regular operations’ and as one that is ‘readily accessible’. It lists the project

  as if it had already been approved. Trebles all round!

  CLICK HERE - TO SIGN THE PETITION

  click here for Sample Letters of Objection