Scottish Natural Heritage Raise Powerline Objections

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Scottish Natural Heritage Raise Powerline Objections

At the beginning of March, SNH registered objections to designated sites, protected species and landscape and visual impacts along the Beauly-Denny proposed new powerline route.

The quango reckons that many of its concerns could be addressed by planning conditions. However, it is seeking amendments to tackle more serious worries. It particularly wants alternative route options to be considered where the route crosses the Cairngorms National Park and the Ochils near the Wallace Monument.

John Thomson, an SNH director, said: "This development is seen as the key to unlocking the environmental and economic benefits of renewable energy production in areas which hold some of the best resources in Europe.

"It will also inevitably affect areas valued highly for their wildlife, habitats and landscapes, and for the outdoor recreation opportunities they offer. The development will lead to some unavoidable adverse impacts.

"Our role is to ensure these are minimised. There are issues still to be resolved, including several sections in which we are not yet satisfied that the route with least impact has been adopted.

"We will need further information and the acceptance of planning conditions, as well as more detailed talks with the developer."

In December Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, led a march against the proposals. He and his sister, Honor Fraser, the model, whose clan seat is near Beauly, have joined a campaign against the plan. Opponents believe the new line will spoil the landscape and damage a wood that is home to red kites. They want further investigations into putting the line underground.

Campaigners living along the 135-mile route of the proposed line of pylons have also handed over more than 10,000 objections to the plan.

Both CRAP, the Cairngorms Revolt Against Pylons, and the Cairngorms National Park Authorit, have indicated they did not want the power line going through the designated area.

Scottish & Southern Electricity smaintains that a recent study showed that underground cableing would

* cost between six and 12 times more than overhead lines,

* have more prolonged faults and take longer to repair, and

* involve "motorway-width disturbance".