Council issues statement after over St Kilda centre row 16/11/09
► No u-
► Jura Consultants’ defence on St Kilda centre controversy
Western Isles Council has issued a statement over the St Kilda centre controversy.
It follows claims that the results of a feasibility study into the preferred host location for the proposed facility were skewed when significant criteria were changed.
Jura Consultants were hired by the selection panel and three districts lodged a bid based on the consultant’s brief which outlined the criteria looked for.
The teams for NorthUist and Leverburgh voiced concerns that the rules were changed
mid-
Last week Hebrides News reported that a secret meeting held by the selection panel
is refusing to undertake a u-
Now a council statement has confirmed the outcome though it does not
The St Kilda Working Group met on Thursday 12th November and considered
representations made by groups from Uist and Harris regarding the
feasibility study into a St Kilda Centre carried out by Jura
Consultants.
The Working Group also considered a report by Jura Consultants,
'Response to Comments on Jura Consultant's St Kilda Centre
Recommendation Paper.'
After due consideration, the Working Group reaffirmed its support of the
recommendations made by Jura Consultants.
The Working Group believes
the feasibility study process was fair and transparent, and that there
is no justification to halt the process or re-
Each of the partner organisations will now consider their own position
with regard to the draft Feasibility Study.
The Working Group wishes to acknowledge the tremendous response and
interest from the local community to the proposals to establish a world
class St Kilda Centre. The quality of all the proposals was commendable
and also evidences the comprehensive nature of the community engagement
process undertaken by the consultant team.
Councillor Angus McCormack, Chair of the St Kilda Centre Working Group,
commented, "It is vitally important to stress that this project is very
much in its infancy and will require the bringing together of a wide
local, national and international group to deliver the vision. All the
communities who may benefit from this project will be invited to engage
with the next steps in the process."
He added, "I believe that the hard work communities have put into their
proposals can contribute to the wider vision for the St Kilda Centre in
the Outer Hebrides, and be of direct benefit to these communities. I
hope that we can now work together to achieve that vision."