THE Kilmorey Arms Hotel in Kilkeel was the venue for the latest and thirdxa0Firstxa0Flightxa0Windxa0Community Stakeholder Panel meeting as part of the consultation process into the initiative for a marine windfarm off the East Down coast.
The Panel had the opportunity to review howxa0Firstxa0Flightxa0Wind (FFW) is engaging with the local community.xa0 This independent Community Stakeholder Panel was formed almost one year ago, and its function is to ensure thatxa0Firstxa0Flightxa0Windxa0remains committed to informing and consulting with the community.
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Attendees at the third First Flight Wind Community Stakeholder Panel in Kilkeel included (l-r) Michael Curran, Louth County Council; Nicholas McCrickard, County Down Rural Community Network; Pamela Houston, Kilkeel Development Association; Michael Harper, First Flight Wind; Councillor Harold McKee, Newry & Mourne District Council; Victoria McCabe, First Flight Wind; farmer Edward Carson; Seamus Walsh, County Down GAA; John Smyth, Ardglass Harbour Master; Dr Conor Patterson, Newry & Mourne Co-Operative and Enterprise Agency.[/caption]At this meeting, members of thexa0FFW Community Liaison Team updated the Panel on the development of the offshorexa0windxa0project, and gave them an overview of the second round of consultation which commenced on 9xa0September and concluded on 31xa0October 2013. During this second round of consultation,xa0FFW held eight Information Days, and encouraged those who attended to complete a questionnaire to record their views. Around 725 comments were received from members of the public during this period.
Dr Conor Patterson, Chair of the Stakeholder Panel said:xa0“As an independent Panel, it is our duty to ensurexa0Firstxa0Flightxa0Windxa0continues to engage with local communities and inform them about the development of this offshore project”.
“This meeting was an opportunity for us to learn more about the findings of the second round of consultation activities, and discover how the comments made by members of the public were captured and reviewed ahead of a summary report being published. Importantly we had the opportunity to review and comment on howxa0Firstxa0Flightxa0Wind’s community engagement plan is working.”
Panel members are independent ofxa0Firstxa0Flightxa0Windxa0and their remit makes clear that members can participate in the Panel whatever their views on the project. The Panel is mae up of local individuals with a mix of experiences and backgrounds… xa0for more information visit:
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