Concerns over camp plan for 350 workers on Scottish island

Broadford: So, here’s the scoop. Sodexo is trying to get the green light from Highland Council to set up a camp for about 350 workers in Broadford, Skye. They’ll be working on a new electricity line that connects to the Western Isles.

This camp could stick around for about five years, which is a big deal for a town with only around 1,000 folks living there. The news came out during a community council meeting, and you could feel the tension in the air.

Locals are worried that this camp might put too much pressure on the town’s resources, like sewage systems and other services that are already stretched thin.

But Sodexo is defending their plan, saying it’ll actually help ease some housing and medical issues by providing those services right on site. They also promised to follow SEPA standards for water and drainage systems.

Rhona Coogan, the chair of the community council, expressed the community’s concerns, saying this planning application highlights the challenges small towns and islands face. She emphasized the importance of the community being heard in these discussions.

The planners mentioned they’ve talked to locals and made some changes based on their feedback. They’re hoping to keep a good relationship with the community and the local authority.

Just a heads up, the camp won’t be a go unless the Scottish Government gives the thumbs up for the new electricity line. But it looks like that’s likely since SSEN has pointed out that the line needs to be upgraded to keep the lights on in Skye and the Western Isles. Plus, there are renewable energy projects that will depend on this new line to get electricity into the national grid.