First Flight Wind Community Stakeholder Panel Holds First Meeting

The First Flight Wind Community Stakeholder Panel chaired by Dr Conor Patterson, back right.[/caption] First Flight Wind is a group of three companies that have come together to plan, design, implement the construction of the  marine offshore wind farm and manage its operations off the CountyDown coast. The major project for which will impact on east Down particularly is at the early stages of development and a process of three public consultations has to be unfolded. The area zoned for potential development is from Sheepland north of Ardglass to Carlingford Lough. The Panel, chaired by Dr Conor Patterson, will provide independent advice on the scope of the consultation programme to ensure First Flight Wind carries it out effectively. At the initial meeting, the Panel received a presentation from members of the First Flight Wind project team, discussed the Terms of Reference for the Panel and reviewed the draft findings of the first round of consultation held from November 2012 to January 2013. [caption id="attachment_36470" align="alignright" width="290"] Dr Conor Patterson, panel chair, with Audrey Byrne, President of Newcastle Chamber of Commerce and John Smyth, Ardglas Harbour Master.[/caption] The Panel membership has been selected in agreement with the Chairman to ensure that panellists are drawn from a range of backgrounds, across a geographic and political spread as well as on the basis of each panellist’s knowledge of the area, their experience with community interaction and other relevant expertise. The Community Stakeholder Panel is not a technical forum for reviewing the project itself but will act in an advisory capacity with a focus on the delivery of the community stakeholder consultation programme. Dr Conor Patterson is the Chief Executive of the Newry & Mourne Co-Operative and Enterprise Agency. Previously Chair of the Newry & Mourne Economic Forum, Conor is one of the co-ordinators of the Greater Newry Vision Partnership. He said: “The proposed offshore wind project is a significant project and has already generated a lot of local interest and debate. This Panel will help to advise the project team on how best to conduct its local community engagement and consultation programme. “This will ensure the community is kept appropriately informed, and has the right opportunities to contribute to the shape of the project as the plans develop. All of us are drawn from a variety of backgrounds so that, together as a Panel, we can review the issues based on a thorough understanding of the South Down area.” “It is our intention to ensure the First Flight Wind project team create opportunities for the community to hear about the project as it progresses and subsequently listen to the views expressed.” It is currently envisaged that the First Flight Wind Community Stakeholder Panel will meet three times per year.]]>