Hi Everyone

It has been a very productive and interesting week. On thursday we met with representatives of Vattenfall, the company owned by the Swedish government who is applying to build a second windfarm in the Clashindarroch forest, which as you all know, is home to the most significant population of Scottish wildcats in existence. We met with the project director, project manager and their lead ecologist who did the Environmental Impact assessment (EIA). Wildcat Haven were represented by our legal representative, a professional ecologist and our Chief Scientific Advisor.  

Vattenfall have recently published an EIA on their windfarm proposal. Prior to the meeting, we had comprehensively reviewed this document and strongly felt that there were numerous and fundamental weaknesses in it that would allow us to mount a successful legal challenge to the development. The meeting was to discuss our concerns with the Vattenfall team. The meeting lasted for 2 hours and suffice it to say, that none of our concerns have been allayed and we are more confident than ever that this development is non-viable and can be successfully legally challenged.  Put simply it is clear that their proposed development poses an unacceptable risk to a population of wildcats that is of both national and international importance and that this risk cannot be mitigated. Of course we can't publish the specific basis of our legal challenge here for obvious reasons but rest assured, Susan Shaw, who heads up our legal team is already working on the legal objection. 

In the meeting we made it clear to them the overwhelming level of public outrage to their plans as evidenced by this petition which now stands at an incredible 575,000. They were left in no doubt that you are all right behind us and stand ready to support our efforts to save this forest. We clearly stated to them that we require a full withdrawal of their application and that this is the only way that we will withdraw our legal challenge. Our formal objection needs to be lodged by the end of February and rest assured that our legal and ecological teams will be working flat out to ensure that no stone is left unturned in ensuring that our challenge to this project will be terminal. 

Remember you can support our efforts but contributing to our legal crowdfunder at:

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/wildcats/  

Thanks again and we will update again soon.

The Wildcat Haven Team