Lairg Loch Buidhe Community Liaison Group
Introduction
The Lairg to Loch Buidhe Project has recently submitted applications for a new substation at Dalchork and a new overhead line connecting this to the recently completed Loch Buidhe substation; as part of our planning submission we have included the establishment of a Community Liaison Group (CLG).
We have already set up and participated in CLGs across Scotland as part of some of our other construction projects, to ensure that the communities hosting these not only understand what is being undertaken but also, importantly, have the opportunity to work with us in a constructive manner.
We will establish the Lairg to Loch Buidhe CLG drawing on our experience gained from these previous construction projects which have used the CLG as the primary communication platform.
Initial Communication with the Community
Formation of the Lairg to Loch Buidhe CLG will require an initial meeting with the following:
- Elected Members from The Highland Council’s North, West and Central Sutherland Wards
- Representatives from the Lairg Community Council
- Members of the community residing within 2km of the development site.
We will write to these parties to both introduce and explain the purpose of the CLG, propose an initial meeting date and provide an agenda for the meeting.
We will contact the Elected Members and Community Council Chair to identify a suitable venue for the initial meeting and also a suitable date that does not conflict with other community affairs.
Structure and mechanism
The initial meeting will inform the Lairg community of the format and mechanism that the CLG will use during the construction and energisation phase of our project.
- The CLG will require regular attendance from representatives of the Lairg community.
- We would recommend that there are 1-2 members of the Lairg Community Council and 2-3 representatives from the wider community.
- The wider community members should be nominated, or elected, by the wider community.
- Attendance of Elected Highland Council Councillors to the CLG is important so they will also be invited.
- There may be requirement to have attendance from parties such as The Highland Council Roads Department, Transport Scotland, and Forestry Commission as necessary.
Once established, the meetings will be open to all members of the Lairg Community.
Members of the CLG would have a responsibility to represent the wider community and relay information to the Community Council and wider community through existing communication channels. The initial meeting will also be used to confirm the mechanism on how information will be distributed.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Lairg to Loch Buidhe CLG please email lisa.marchi@sse.com