Information Bulletin
13 September 2005
Convener Reinforces Case Against Scottish Water Sell-off
In response to the growing public concern over the planned sale, Council Convener Sandy Cluness has written again to Scottish Water setting out a number of technical and legal reasons for the auction to be delayed. These points add weight to the case already put to Scottish Water that the sale should be halted until the Council can determine the benefits of keeping the assets in community ownership. "Lochs like Gossawater are part of our heritage," said the Convener, "and should not be sold off to the highest bidder, very probably from outwith the islands. In addition I have had indications that certain plots of land were transferred to the old Council to hole improve water supplies for the relevant district, and the descendants of the original donors are very concerned that these should now be owned by complete strangers."
The Convener said that his first letter to Scottish Water had only produced an acknowledgement and hoped that Professor Alexander recognised the considerable public concern over this issue and that disposal of these historic assets be delayed until a report is available to the full Council." If a negotiated sale is possible to Hjaltland Housing there is absolutely no reason why Scottish Water cannot follow the same procedure with ourselves," said the Convener. "We have a relatively good relationship with Scottish Water and I believe this current difficulty can easily be resolved though further dialogue."
ENDS