Save Scotland’s wild landscapes from the unnecessary Beauly-Denny pylon line
After two years of debate and deliberation, the government gave approval to the highly controversial Beauly to Denny power line in January 2010.The 220km-long Beauly Denny pylon line will march straight through the Cairngorms National Park and run close to Schiehallion and the Wallace Monument. The new lines will require approximately 600 steel lattice towers, each between 50 and 56m tall.
Ramblers Scotland has been working with other members of the Beauly Denny Landscape Group, and in March 2009 we produced a Parliamentary Briefing to remind the decision-makers in the Scottish Parliament that alternatives do exist to this intrusive and unwelcome development.
The key point that politicians need to question is the assumption that the Beauly to Denny transmission upgrade is essential at this point in time. Evidence that examined viable alternatives was submitted to the Public Inquiry strategic session, but it was not accepted as it was deemed to be too late as it had passed an arbitrary deadline for receiving new information.
Reinforcing the existing east coast line would provide sufficient transmission for Scotland to meet its 2020 renewable targets. Sub-sea cables are now recognised by the industry as the best way to transport electricity from the coming revolution in off-shore wave, tidal and wind energy. Neither of these alternatives was considered in detail at the Public Local Inquiry.
If you care for the Scottish hills, then please raise the issue of alternatives with your MP and MSPs.
Further details can be found at Powerline Alternatives.
