THE second meeting of the Community Stakeholder Panel which has been drawn up to hold First Flight Wind to account and advise on its consultation process, was held on Thursday 20 June in the Down County Museum in Downpatrick.
At the second Stakeholder Panel meeting, the Panel was asked to examine and comment on the proposed plans for the second round of Information Days. These will take place over a two week period in September and will provide an update on the project to local communities.
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The First Flight Wind Stakeholder Panel pictured at their second meeting.[/caption]
Michael Harper, Project Director of First Flight Wind said: “We have made a commitment to inform and consult the community. The role of the Panel is specifically to advise on our plans for how we consult and to make sure we undertake the work effectively. Panel members are independent of First Flight Wind and their remit makes clear that members can participate in the Panel whatever their views on the project.”
The First Flight Wind project team gave the panel members an update on the offshore project, including survey work that had been carried out and project presentations that had been given since the previous Stakeholder Panel meeting. The Panel also heard about the initial stages of the First Flight Wind education programme rolled out to primary and post-primary schools throughout Co. Down during the spring.
The Stakeholder Panel was established in February 2013 as an independent group both to advise the First Flight Wind project team on its community consultation programme and to hold the team to account in implementing that programme. The Panel comprises local individuals with a mix of experiences and backgrounds. This ensures that collectively the Panel can comment on how best to engage with the communities in the Mourne Coastal area.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Community Stakeholder Panel, go to:
www.firstflightwind.com/
First Flight Wind is a consortium comprising B9 Energy, DONG Energy and RES.
It is envisaged that the Community Stakeholder Panel will meet around three times a year. The panel met for the first time on 14 February 2013.
The Remit of the Stakeholder Panel and Minutes of the first meeting are available to download from:
* Minutes of the second Stakeholder Panel will also be made available on the project website.
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