'We need to mobilise now': Sutherland residents urged to oppose super pylons
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Sutherland residents are being urged to mobilise in opposition to SSEN’s Transmission controversial proposals to erect a line of 57m high super pylons running 350m apart through the county.
Local activist David Graham made his call following a well attended meeting at Brora last week to discuss the firm’s plans for a new 400kV power line stretching 100 miles from Spittal to Beauly. Upgraded substations are also planned at Spittal, Loch Buidhe and Beauly.
Four community councils linked together to organise the event – Helmsdale and District, Brora, Golspie and Rogart following widespread concern from local residents over the “huge infrastructure project".
A panel of high-powered SSEN representatives attended the meeting including head of corporate affairs Greg Clarke and lead consents and environment manager Simon Hall.
The plans are seen as critical in moving renewable energy generated in the Highland to the rest of the UK, and are part of a programme of works required to meet 2030 renewable targets.
Mr Graham, who works in publishing and lives at Dalreavoch, Rogart, said it had become “pretty clear pretty quickly” what SSEN’s real priorities were.
“They have to deliver their plan fast and they have to deliver it without eating into too much of parent company’s SSE’s £2.2 billion profits (made in year 2022/23)”, he said
“And guess what option is the cheapest and quickest - and therefore quite clearly the preferred one? That’s right, 57m high pylons buzzing and crackling with electricity, dominating our open lands and towering over our communities.
“There are alternatives, a sub-sea route - one is planned from Spittal to Beauly, or cables buried below ground are planned from the west. These alternatives are more expensive but they are feasible.
“If we are to prevail in persuading SSEN that their preferred route is one of these submerged alternatives, and not over our heads we need to mobilise now.
“Everyone concerned should contact their local community council or activists’ group and make your feelings known to your local MP and MPs, and these councils and groups must work together to ensure that no overground route is designated as the ‘preferred one’. The preferred route is below the ground or under the sea."
He continued: “We have legal and legitimate means to apply pressure on SSEN to change its mind, dig a bit deeper into SSE’s bulging coffers and deliver an energy network that has minimal impact on our economic welfare, health and quality of life. But we must apply that pressure now.
“The stakes are high - there is a requirement for four further routes to carry electricity to where it is consumed and SSEN's carefully chosen words on that subject were 'there are no plans at this time to build more pylons though our communities.' I think we've all hear the phrase 'at this time' before and know exactly what it really means.
"If we don’t stop them now, be prepared for many more giant pylons marching across the landscape and the full industrialisation of this once unspoilt and unique corner of Scotland.”
SSEN’s Greg Clarke told the meeting that the firm was committed to continuing engagement with communities and that no decision had as yet been taken over the specific overhead route alignment.
He said: “I would like to reassure everyone in the room that we fully recognise the strength of feeling about the potential impact of the proposal and we are listening and actively considering what we can do to minimise and mitigate the impact.
“We recognise we did not get everything right in our last round of consultations and are sorry for any anxiety it may have caused."
Underground and subsea options were said to be "significantly" challenging with cabling extremely sensitive to a marine environment.
“The cost of sub-sea versus overhead is significantly higher and we cannot transfer the same amount of electricity - two gigawatts on a sub-sea cable and five gigawatts on an overhead line. We would need multiple cables,” said Mr Clarke
Simon Hall said consents applications had to be made by the end of 2024 and there were “18 months to go to work through and find a compromise solution".
He added: “It will not please everyone - they never do.”
SSEN was criticised for using “out of date” maps and also for showing far less historic sites than there actually were.
A number of speakers said Sutherland had already done its bit for renewable energy and that there was not benefit to the county to be had from the new pylon line.
