Tory leader asked to stand up for Scotland and stop Beauly-Denny
Ramblers Scotland Convener, Dennis Canavan, is challenging David Cameron to give a manifesto commitment to cancel the Beauly- Denny powerline project. The call comes as Cameron comes north this week to face the Scottish press and his own party conference.
Dennis Canavan said:
“Although the Scottish Government has given conditional planning approval for Beauly-Denny, energy policy is mainly a reserved matter and Beauly-Denny is a UK project which is now dependent on decisions taken at Westminster. The UK Energy Minister and MPs are in a powerful position to demand a re-appraisal of Ofgem’s original approval of the project. They must ask themselves whether £350million should be allocated to a 220km line from Beauly to Denny or to alternative, less damaging electricity transmission routes.
“David Cameron needs to tell us if the Tories are ready to defend Scotland’s magnificent scenery from this disastrous project.
“Is he prepared to put people before pylons?
“For Scotland’s sake, Westminster politicians must throw out today’s discredited energy policy – we need long distance energy transmission based on subsea cables, not massive pylons marching through the Highlands. Beauly-Denny is all about profit for energy companies, expensive electricity bills for everyone and irreparable damage to Scotland’s greatest generator of economic value – tourism.
“Does Cameron understand Scotland, does he understand value for money when making decisions on energy investment, does he have due regard for our people and our land? Is he up for the challenge?”
ENDS
More information on Beauly Denny
