News Release
Expert Evidence That Cannot be Ignored
Candidates for the Scottish Parliamentary and local elections have been urged to pay close attention to the expert evidence being given this week to the Beauly – Denny Public Inquiry by Scotland’s leading organisations for landscape and outdoor recreation.
Director of Ramblers’ Association Scotland, Dave Morris, said:
“This is the week for our aspirant politicians to learn what a disaster the proposed monster pylon route would be for Scotland’s world famous outdoor environment. Politicians cannot ignore the scale of opposition – from the 17,000 people who objected to the planning application to the 300,000 members of the National Trust for Scotland, the largest of the landscape and outdoor recreation organisations who will be giving evidence this week.
Dave Morris also welcomed the expertise which is now being brought into the inquiry to counter the evidence of the developers:
“Last week we heard the former chairman of Scottish Power, Sir Donald Miller, say that the justification for this proposal was seriously flawed. In addition Derek Birkett, a former transmission grid controller, challenged the need for this project, branding it an ill-considered venture at this point in time.
“Now this week the inquiry will hear from experts like Professor Roger Crofts, former Chief Executive of Scottish Natural Heritage and now a leading figure in the World Conservation Union and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, John Mayhew, a senior policy office in the NTS and currently chairman of Scottish Environment LINK and David Jarman, a former West Lothian Director of Planning and now speaking on behalf of the Scottish Wild Land Group.”
Dave Morris emphasised that the opposition case was not based simply on the need to protect the wildness and beauty of Scotland from political misjudgement and the financial muscle of multinational energy companies:
“Our opposition includes evidence on the economic justification of this powerline from Andrew Bain, a Professor of Economics. We are not merely relying on an appreciation of the beauty of the landscape, but are dealing in hard economic facts here.”
END
Notes for Editors
The Beauly-Denny Powerline Inquiry resumes at 10.00am on Tuesday 24th April at the Quality Hotel in Perth.
John Mayhew and David Jarman will give evidence on Tuesday, with Stuart Young, a windfarm visualisation expert giving a visual critique of the impact of the powerline on the landscape on Wednesday morning, the 25th.
Professors Roger Crofts and Andrew Bain are likely to give their evidence on Wednesday afternoon or the morning of Thursday 26th.
