The Scottish Government today approved the Beauly to Denny 400kV electricity transmission. The decision follows a multi-million pound Public Local Inquiry that due to the way the planning system works, did not properly consider alternatives.
“Marching a 220km mega pylon line though some of our most world-renown landscapes may be the most lucrative option for the energy industry but it is the wrong choice for Scotland,” commented Helen McDade, Head of Policy for the John Muir Trust. “It is particularly galling that this white elephant is being given the go-ahead in a week when the UK government will announce another generation of offshore wind farms. This, combined with plans for a European subsea supergrid, completely destroys any rationale for bringing electricity produced in the north of Scotland, and destined for consumption in England, overland right down through the Highlands and Central Scotland. Why on earth not have one or more subsea cables for this long-distance transmission?”
The convenor of Ramblers Scotland, Denis Canavan, commented that the decision was “a gross act of vandalism that would destroy some of the most scenic areas in Scotland,” whilst Cameron McNeish, editor of TGO magazine, condemned the government for “…trashing the concept of National Parks by allowing part of this monstrous scheme to run through the Cairngorms National Park.”
Mountaineering Council of Scotland President, Chris Townsend said: “We express great disappointment at the decision: the pylon line will damage the precious and irreplaceable Scottish mountain landscape,” whilst Cheif Officer, David Gibson, added “Future generations will judge whether this is the correct decision, made against a background of nearly 18,000 objections, the damage to the landscape, and the lack of examination of alternative options.”
The chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, Duncan McLaren, welcomed the decision, saying the potential environmental damage from climate change was much greater than any caused by the new line.
Labour, the Lib Dems and the Conservatives all simply said an announcement on the project was long overdue.