NEWS UPDATES
2014 Newsletter
Community Turbine Community Shares Nature Observatory
Reflection on Ness Energy Advice Service FÀILTE
Community Fund AGM Notice
FÀILTE OIRBH GU CUAIRT-LITIR ÙR URRAS OIGHREACHD GHABHSAINN. THA MI 'N DÒCHAS GUN CÒRD NA H-ARTAIGEALAN RIBH AGUS GUN TOIR IAD DHUIBH BLAS AIR AN LIUTHAD RUD ANNS A BHEILEAR AN SÀS AN-DIUGH. THA SINN AN DÒCHAS GUN TIONNDAIDH MÒRAN AGAIBH A-MACH AIRSON A’ CHOINNEAMH BHLIADHNAIL AGUS A’ CHOINNEAMH A BHIOS A’ GABHAIL ÀITE ÀS A DÈIDH. BIDH LUCHD-OBRACH AN URRAIS AGUS AOIGHEAN EILE A’ TOIRT FIOSRACHADH MU LEASACHAIDHEAN ÙRA. MAR IS ÀBHAIST THA MI AN DÒCHAS GUN CUIR FEADHAINN AGAIBH UR N-AINMEAN AIR ADHART AIRSON A THIGHINN AIR A’ BHÒRD. TAING DHUIBH UILE AIRSON UR TAIC. WELCOME
AND MORE!!!
RETAIL AREA We have established a fantastic retail area in the UOG business
centre, designed to WELCOME TO THIS NEW EDITION OF THE URRAS NEWSLETTER. I HOPE YOU FIND THE ARTICLES INFORMATIVE AND THAT THEY GIVE YOU A FLAVOUR OF THE WIDE RANGING ACTIVITIES NOW TAKING PLACE. WE ARE VERY KEEN THAT AS MANY AS POSSIBLE OF OUR MEMBERS ATTEND THIS YEAR’S AGM AND THE GENERAL MEETING TAKING PLACE IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. GUEST SPEAKERS AND URRAS STAFF WILL USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO UNVEIL PLANS FOR IMPORTANT NEW DEVELOPMENTS. AS ALWAYS I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO CONSIDER PUTTING THEIR NAMES FORWARD FOR NOMINATION TO THE BOARD AT THE AGM. AGNES RENNIE, CHAIRPERSON
showcase local arts, crafts and produce. If you would like to discuss stocking your items please get in touch. office@uogltd.com
LOCH STIAPABHAT NATURE OBSERVATORY OFFICIAL OPENING EVENT The Nature Observatory at Loch Stiapabhat Local Nature Reserve in Ness, Isle of Lewis is a fantastic new facility and on Saturday 12th April it opened its door, (or should that be its boardwalk) officially to the public. Roy Dennis MBE was invited to speak at a short brunch Competition winner—Alasdair Macdonald age 8 event in Ness, before those in attendance grabbed their boots, scopes and jackets and made their way to the loch for the opening of the new observatory. The event was opened by Agnes Rennie, Chair of Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn and guests heard a little about the project from Urras Manager Lisa Maclean, who explained that the project was funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, LEADER, RSPB and the John Muir Trust and it was constructed by a local employment scheme run by the local authority, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The observatory is open to the public and you can follow our news and updates on the Loch Stiaphabhat Facebook page.
Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn (Galson Estate Trust) is entrusted with the management of the 56,000 acre community owned estate in north-west Lewis. North Lewis is a beautiful and important place for natural, built and social heritage with an unique interaction between crofting lifestyles, beautiful landscapes and a diverse natural environment. The area boasts fantastic coastal scenery, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, Sites of Scientific Interest and an exceptional range of flora and fauna including Golden Eagles, Corncrakes, Fulmars, Gannets, Otters, the Great Yellow Bumblebee and many others.
UOG Board of Directors Agnes Rennie (Chair) Carola Bell (Vice Chair) Norman N. Thompson Colin M. Maclean Donald S. MacLeod James Macleod Cpt Alex J. Morrison Mairi M. Smith Alasdair Smith Murray Macleod
UOG Staff Team Lisa Maclean - Commercial Development Manager Neil Mackinnon -Renewables Development Officer Joanne Matheson -Administrative Officer Marie Gillies - Crofting Administrative Officer Christine Murray - Crofting Administrative Officer Amy Kapherr– Diament - Marketing and Membership Officer Holly Magee - Crowdfunding Officer Wayne Challender - Amenity Site Supervisor Robert Mace - Amenity Site Operative John De Sykes - Relief Amenity Site Operative
NESS - LAUREN MURRAY A local reflection from budding local writer Lauren Murray from South Dell. If you never knew, or heard about Ness, and if someone told you it was a small part of an island, on the Western Isles of Scotland, consisting of 16 villages, what would you think? Many people, I’m sure, wouldn’t really think, but classify it as any old place. How wrong would they be? Ness is a magnificent place. It’s probably well known for its herds of sheep and cattle, its historical culture, and, in addition to that, it’s atrocious weather. Although the scenery outside your window on a baltic, tempestuous winter’s morning is not the most pleasant, it certainly doesn’t blow away the love, and the passion the people of Ness have. You would feel exceedingly welcomed travelling to Ness as a tourist, or coming here on a search for something different, rather than the usual city-life. For those who’d think living in Ness would be an isolated, lonely, and a ‘no-shop-nearbyplace’, they should look at the beauty of Ness properly, with their two eyes. With two grocers, a restaurant/hotel, plenty of beautiful beaches, a primary/ secondary school, a sports centre, Galson Estate Trust (Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn), for advice and information associated to Ness, an outstanding landscape, friendly, kind people, you would not want to miss it. What I find so beautiful is on a calm, spring/summer’s night, when you look out of your window, and see the sun setting, reflecting upon the sea. The sky would be a bit like ‘ombre’, different colours almost every night, and seeing animals (mainly sheep), away in the distance. I really love that scenery.
Another thing – moorland. Ness is one of the only places that is very fortunate to have moorland. You can find some very unusual, yet interesting plants and flowers there. Also, as many people know, cutting the peats, and taking them home is tradition. Going out to the peats on a beautiful day for a few hours, and having a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea on the tractor, is great. I remember a few years ago, me and my sister would go on the trailer, attached to the tractor, and we would go out to the ‘mòine’. We would just play around on the trailer, run around, falling over on the boggy, and muddy parts, and having fun. Poor Mum and Dad would be cutting the peats, in the scorching sun! After that, we would have a very well deserved picnic, sitting on the boggy heather, pouring tea from flasks, and just enjoying every single second of it! By Lauren Murray, Lionel school - P7
Cliffs of Ness and protected Peatlands
COMMUNITY TO SHARE IN WINDFALL A new community investment opportunity is being launched next month that will be open to individuals, businesses and organisations. Shares will be made available for purchase in a new venture which aims to build a prosperous future for the Galson Estate community.
Official handover of first turbine
PHASE 2 OF WIND ENERGY PROJECT Discussions are ongoing with the prospective bank regarding loan terms for phase 2 of the wind energy project at Ballantrushal. There are some challenges to overcome given different commercial lenders for the first and second phases, particularly regarding securities and safeguards in place for the existing loan, but there are solutions that can be adopted to remedy conflicting interests. It is intended that the Urras’ subsidiary, Galson Energy, will continue as developer for the second phase. Meantime, Urras staff are continuing to develop technical details for the second phase. Quotations have been obtained from some key suppliers and plans for developing the two remaining turbine plots are being drawn up.
Turbine installation is being targeted for Summer 2015
It will be registered with, but not authorised or regulated by, the Financial Conduct Authority and, therefore, investments are not safeguarded by any depositor protection or dispute resolution scheme.
Unlike the ‘ordinary shares’ typical of a limited company, these types of shares have a fixed value and cannot be sold, traded or transferred between Investors will have an opportunity to members. Furthermore, only UESL assist in the creation of a sustainable can buy them back. Also, there is no future for the community and, at the prospect of them ever being worth same time, secure an attractive return on more than their nominal value. Rather their investment over a 20 year period. than an annual share dividend being Additional tax benefits may be available paid to shareholders, an annual to eligible UK taxpayers through special interest payment is made. allowances for purchasing shares in small The level of interest is recommended unlisted companies. by the Board of Directors and agreed The objective of the share offer is to with the members of the UESL at the raise monies to support the installation Annual General Meeting. Investors of two 900kW wind turbines at would have equal voting powers Ballantrushal to operate alongside the irrespective of investment size – “one existing turbine that was installed member one vote”. Interest on shares around 12 months ago. These new wind is paid gross (it is the investor’s own turbines will be connected to the local responsibility to declare these earnings power grid and provide clean, green to HMRC). electricity for up to 1,400 homes each year. Rates of interest offered are generally 4%-5%, but can be higher, depending Community share initiatives have been on how much funding is intended to be used to finance a number of renewable raised through shares. Phase 2, which energy developments throughout has an estimated cost of £2.8m plus Scotland in recent years, proving very VAT, is expected to be financed popular with local residents and also through a mix of commercial loan wider UK investors seeking a mix of provided by an ethical bank and ethical and financial returns. Examples community shares. include the Garmony Hydro scheme in Mull, Dingwall Co-operative’s community wind turbine, the Harlaw Hydro project A detailed prospectus is being produced to launch the share offer near Edinburgh and, most recently, the Wester Derry Co-operative wind explaining all the key issues and turbine in Perthshire. highlights the risks to prospective investors. In addition, various events There are normally three aspects that and awareness raising activities have appeal to potential investors : been planned to enable those Generating clean, green electricity interested to gather more information Bringing environmental and social and discuss any individual queries or benefit to the community concerns. Offering an attractive financial return in exchange for support The Urras Energy Society Ltd Share
A new Society has been set up to offer shares; Urras Energy Society Limited (UESL). It has a co-operative structure with community benefit objectives.
Offer will officially launch on 3rd October at an event at the Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre, Borve. Share offers are normally open for a few months and this one is likely to shut early in 2015.
ENERGY SAVINGS COMMUNITIES PROJECT Well a big hello from me, Brian, your Energy Savings Officer. I want to start by thanking the team at the Urras for making me feel so welcome and at home. I also want to thank you, the wider public for doing the same. I have met so many kind and nice people I really can say I feel at home here on the estate. I moved from London to Lewis, Brixton to Borve so it has been a big and wonderful change for me. In terms of the post, things are going really well, I have visited over 90 homes since mid-January so I have really got to grips with the issues up here. The project I am working on is funded by BIG Lottery’s Support and Connect Fund and below are some of the targets reached so far. • • • • • • • •
390 people have been given advice or information to help reduce fuel bills 65 given billing advice 40 have attended presentations 53 energy efficiency measures applied / installed 248 given specific energy efficiency advice 69 homes advised on renewable energy options 24 briefed on how to switch suppliers 103 home visits across the Galson Estate
Brian checking for draughts at Clan MacQuarrie
Competition- Winner of best snake draught excluder– Maisie Macleod
An Energy Efficiency Advice drop in session is in operation on Wednesday mornings. Come along, have a tea or coffee and receive a FREE consultation to help SAVE ENERGY and MONEY in your home. If you would like to request a home visit, please call the office for an appointment 01851 850393.
HABOST WASTE AND RECYCLING CENTRE Bulky Household Waste Disposal and Recycling Point for the disposal of Household Waste Only. Operatives will be onsite during the opening times to assist you with your disposal. Please refrain from discerning items out with these times as this will be treated as fly tipping. Contact us tel: Out of Hours – Contacts 01851 850393. Zero Waste Western Isles (CNES): 01851 79900
SEPA: 01851 706477 SEPA 24 hour pollution report line: 0800 807060 UOG: 01851 850393 Site licence number: WML / N/0220269
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Open from 10am Closed 10am 10am 10am 9am Closed
Open to 12 noon Closed 12 noon 12 noon 12 noon 12 noon Closed
Open from 2pm Closed 2pm 2pm 2pm 1pm Closed
Open to 4pm Closed 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm Closed
Winter Timetable: 27th October 2014 – 28th March 2015
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
NURTURING OUR COMMUNITY’S FUTURE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAMME—LAUNCHES IN OCTOBER 2014 Our Community Investment Programme seeks to support the community in taking forward projects and activities that aim to develop skills, improve health, protect our environment, promote our heritage and revitalise and develop industry sectors. The programme will offer advice, signposting, funding and aftercare to support delivery of projects. If your group would like to more information on how to apply get in touch.
Email: info@uogltd.com Tel: 01851 850393
REMINDER NOTICE FOR MEMBERS URRAS OIGHREACHD GHABHSAINN GALSON ESTATE TRUST
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF URRAS OIGHREACHD GHABHSAINN WILL BE HELD AT: CLAN MACQUARRIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ON Friday 3 October 2014 AT 7.30 pm If you are not already and would like to become a member please contact the UOG office on 01851850393 for a membership form. Please note the AGM is open to members only.
The Community Share Launch event will take place at 8pm after all business has been dealt with and this event is open to all.
Contact Us Address
UOG Business Centre, Tom na Ba South Galson Isle of Lewis, HS2 0SH
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01851 850393 office@uogltd.com www.galsontrust.com www.facebook.com/galsonestatetrust