Fears have been raised that the Scottish Government is attempting to “pull the wool over the eyes” of a Perthshire community with its latest announcement on the Beauly to Denny power line.
This week it was revealed more than 100km (60 miles) of existing overhead power cables are to be buried in an attempt to reduce the impact of the new overhead power line on the likes of Muthill and other areas.
The SNP government insisted the plans would help minimise the “visual impact” of the new high voltage power line. The proposal is in addition to the removal of the current pylons running from Beauly to Denny.
Ochil and South Perthshire MP Gordon Banks has written to Scottish ministers looking for clarification on the issue, as his Muthill constituents have been left confused as to what their landscape will look like when work is completed.
The Labour MP has supported community calls for undergrounding since 2005 and met again recently with representatives of the community council to discuss the matter.
He said, “At first glance the news appears good for the community, however after examining the detail of this announcement it is not all it appears to be.
“The local community and I have serious concerns that this move is designed to cause confusion and pull the wool over the eyes of Muthill.Clarification sought”I have written to energy minister Jim Mather today to ask him to clarify the comments made by the Scottish Government to allow my constituents the opportunity to fully scrutinise these proposals and how they will impact upon Muthill.
“The community has been arguing that 3km of the new line should be under grounded, however we are no further forward today in understanding whether this will happen or not.”
Meanwhile, Tory MSP Liz Smith struck a similar note in her reaction to the announcement.
She said, “SNP ministers are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of local residents by only delivering basic mitigation requirements for feeder power lines and not addressing the actual need for undergrounding of the main line in parts of Perthshire and Stirlingshire.
“Although it is welcome news that there is to be some minor mitigation requirements for feeder power lines, many outstanding issues remain to be resolved regarding the undergrounding of the main line in parts of Perthshire and Stirlingshire.Contradiction”Ever since the announcement on the Beauly to Denny power line was made by the SNP government, SNP ministers have been spinning that undergrounding is a possibility but this has been contradicted by the power companies who have made it clear that they will not underground the line.
“This announcement has not provided for anything new and sadly for Scotland, the SNP government has allowed itself to be played by the power companies once again.”
“The manner in which the SNP Scottish Government has presided over the planning conditions for the Beauly to Denny power line has been incompetent to say the least and has left many communities in the dark over what mitigation requirements they can expect. This is an unacceptable situation.”