‘Preferential treatment’ claim over Highland pylon scheme
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Campaigners opposed to a line of high-voltage pylons between Caithness and Inverness-shire have accused the Scottish Government of giving "preferential treatment" to the transmission firm behind the controversial project.
Communities B4 Power Companies (CB4PC) has found through Freedom of Information requests that SSEN Transmission and its parent company SSE have a "100 per cent approval record", with none of their planning applications having been refused in the past 15 years.
Highland-based CB4PC is campaigning against the proposals by SSEN Transmission for a 400kV line between Spittal, Loch Buidhe and Beauly which will include new substations at each location.
At a meeting in September last year organised by Dunbeath/Berriedale Community Say NO to Pylons, Lyndsey Ward of CB4PC warned that “nowhere in the Highlands will be safe from industrialisation” if the pylons are built.
CB4PC made three requests under Freedom of Information legislation, which provides public access to information held by public authorities.
The group discovered that "the only slight blip" for SSE was when Glencassley wind farm in Sutherland was refused, then approved after being redesigned as Achany extension.
Mrs Ward said: "Now the general public have been made aware that SSEN and its parent company SSE appear to have rubber stamps with their names on it in the Scottish Government they will be horrified.
"It certainly explains why communities have come to expect these particular multinationals to get approval for their proposals even if they have been refused by the local authority. SSE has had thousands of objections to its proposals over the years and its wind turbines have been shockingly sited in some of the most breathtaking areas of rural Scotland.
"SSEN has had fewer planning applications to date but it can now expect a tsunami of opposition to its recently announced concrete and steel roadshow and multiple salami-sliced planning applications.
"It is demoralising and stressful from the very start for communities to face an industrial project for profit by these particular energy giants in their own area – more so than any other developer because of the seemingly preferential treatment of their planning applications by the Scottish Government.
"People often feel, and have been told so by SSEN staff at public consultations, that there is no point objecting, it is a ‘done deal’ and that the Scottish ministers back them."
Mrs Ward added: "Now this apparent guaranteed approval is public knowledge, maybe, just maybe, the Scottish Government will actually change course and heed public opinion instead of helping to boost the wealth of shareholders in these global investment companies at the expense of the UK-wide consumer, electorate and the environment."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scotland has some of the most stringent environmental impact regulations anywhere in the world and our planning and consenting system ensures that local communities can always have their say. Clear guidance is in place to ensure early public consultation and engagement is carried out for all large-scale infrastructure proposals.
“Any consenting application submitted to the Scottish Government for consideration is subject to consultation with the public and statutory and local bodies. Potential impacts on communities, nature and other valued natural assets or cultural heritage are important considerations in the decision-making process.”
If the Spittal/Beauly scheme goes ahead there will be about 167km of new pylons. The average height of the towers will be 57 metres, with a maximum height of 65m.
SSEN Transmission says it is part of a UK-wide programme of works required to meet renewable targets, claiming it will support thousands of skilled jobs.
