Ronan O'Hara looks to sustainable future during visit to Western Isles | Crown Estate Scotland

Ronan O'Hara is pictured with CES colleagues and council leaders at Stornoway Council Offices

Ronan O’Hara, Chief Executive of Crown Estate Scotland, met key stakeholders in the Western Isles last week to discuss ways in which the organisation can help support a long-term sustainable future for the islands.

Mr O’Hara met Torcuil Crichton, Labour MP for na h-Eileanan an Iar, to discuss the issue of community benefit from offshore wind. He met members of the West Coast Estate Group to hear about the progress they have made in securing community funding from the Northland offshore wind project.

He also had meetings with the leadership of Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, representatives from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other stakeholders.

Crown Estate Scotland is responsible for managing the seabed off the Scottish coast. As such, it acts as the lessee of the offshore wind projects agreed in the recent ScotWind and INTOG rounds.

It is also responsible for leasing the seabed for aquaculture, including salmon farms.

Mr O’Hara said: “The aim of the trip was to spend time listening to some of our key partners and customers, finding out what is working for the benefit of the islands and what more can be done.

“It has been a fascinating and thought-provoking trip. I now know that the Western Isles has the ambition to make the renewables revolution work for the islanders and the leadership to ensure the right processes are put in place to make sure this happens.”

Mr O’Hara was in Stornoway and also in West Lewis over two days last week. He said he wants to make more regular visits to the islands to ensure Crown Estate Scotland works closely with partners and customers on the islands moving forward.

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