Anger over ‘leaked’ Beauly transmission line decision
Pressure was mounting on the Scottish Government last night to announce full details of plans to upgrade 140 miles of power lines in the Highlands and central Scotland after it was claimed the controversial scheme has been approved.
The government’s backing of the £350million project will see 600 pylons, each 200ft high, built between Beauly in Inverness-shire and Denny in Stirlingshire.
Scottish and Southern Energy and ScottishPower applied for planning permission to upgrade the line in 2005, prompting the longest public inquiry since devolution began, which received 18,000 objections.
Supporters say the upgrade is essential to enable power generated by future tidal, wave and wind projects in the Highlands and Islands to be transmitted to the central belt, ensuring the government meets challenging environmental targets by 2020.
Anti-pylon campaigners were furious that a decision of such magnitude had apparently been leaked, two or three weeks before the government is expected to make a formal announcement.
A government spokesman said: “Ministers will make a decision on the Beauly-Denny power line before the end of the year taking into account all relevant factors.”
He said that the government would be making no further comment.
The silence from Holyrood sparked a furious backlash, with opponents demanding that the government reveal the details behind the upgrade, including whether parts of the line would be buried underground or relocated away from homes.
The government’s backing of the £350million project will see 600 pylons, each 200ft high, built between Beauly in Inverness-shire and Denny in Stirlingshire.
Scottish and Southern Energy and ScottishPower applied for planning permission to upgrade the line in 2005, prompting the longest public inquiry since devolution began, which received 18,000 objections.
Supporters say the upgrade is essential to enable power generated by future tidal, wave and wind projects in the Highlands and Islands to be transmitted to the central belt, ensuring the government meets challenging environmental targets by 2020.
Anti-pylon campaigners were furious that a decision of such magnitude had apparently been leaked, two or three weeks before the government is expected to make a formal announcement.
A government spokesman said: “Ministers will make a decision on the Beauly-Denny power line before the end of the year taking into account all relevant factors.”
He said that the government would be making no further comment.
The silence from Holyrood sparked a furious backlash, with opponents demanding that the government reveal the details behind the upgrade, including whether parts of the line would be buried underground or relocated away from homes.
Guts
David MacLehose, chairman of Scotland Before Pylons, said: “It’s so important that ministers have the guts to stand up and make a formal announcement about an issue that will affect Scotland for generations.
“Scotland Before Pylons, advised by industry experts, still believes the need for the proposed Beauly-Denny power line remains unproven.
“High-voltage overhead power lines are universally disliked because of the huge impact on landscape, health, heritage, tourism, economic development and communities. Why else did 18,000 people object to the government in 2005 when these proposals were announced and only 45 wrote in support?”
Caroline Paterson, for Stirling Before Pylons, said: “It’s unclear what the message is because this is a leak. In terms of the health issues I am none the wiser.
“If the line does go through residential areas people need to start questioning the government’s role in protecting public health. There is an international acknowledgement that living in close proximity to high-voltage cables doubles the risk of childhood leukaemia.”
Helen McDade, for John Muir Trust, which has opposed the upgrade, said that if approval had been agreed, it was “a black day for the Scottish environment”.
Highland Lib Dem MP Danny Alexander said: “After many months of dithering, it is typical of the SNP government that they choose to leak a decision in the media rather than announce it openly. A clear decision is desperately needed by all those involved.
“Upgrading of the transmission infrastructure is desperately needed by the renewable energy industry, but to be publicly acceptable, the decision must at least include a commitment to substantial undergrounding in the most sensitive areas, especially in the Cairngorms National Park and around Beauly.”
Liz Smith, Tory MSP for Mid-Scotland, said: “There is no doubt about the need for an upgrade to our electricity grid, but I have never been convinced that other alternatives, especially upgrading the east coast route or building undersea cables, were properly examined.”
There was support for the new line, which would create the capacity to transmit about six gigawatts of power, from the Green Party, businesses and the renewable industry sector last night.
Eleanor Scott, co-convener of the Scottish Green Party, said: “We have always recognised the need to upgrade power lines to maximise the potential for renewable energy in the north. I would give the upgrade a cautious welcome until I’ve seen the detail.”
Niall Stuart, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “The Beauly-Denny transmission line replacement will add momentum towards a more effective Scottish contribution in the fight against climate change and send a very clear signal to investors that Scotland is the place to invest in renewable energy.”
Gareth Williams, head of policy for the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, said: “We strongly support the project because it will help to meet Scotland’s future energy needs and will also help promote the development of renewable energy in the Highlands and islands.”
It is thought a full announcement could be made to coincide with the Scottish Renewables Marine Energy conference in Inverness on November 12 or the Connecting Europe conference in Edinburgh on November 24.
Source: The Press & Journal
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