Call for Highland Council leader Raymond Bremner to speak out over SSEN opening
Councillors must remain neutral
It is a well-known fact that Councillor Bremner stands firmly on the side of business. This in itself is perfectly legitimate even if it is hard to accept for at least those of his constituents that suffer under the ongoing industrialisation of the countryside.
After seeing videos of the very intrusive flashing of the red lights on the recently turned on Camster II turbines, I had a look on the map I made showing large energy related projects (www.highlandrenewablesdatabase.org/map.html) and compared this to the ward boundaries.
It turns out that all applications for large turbines requiring aviation lighting are in Cllr Bremner’s ward: Hollandmey (recently approved by Scottish Ministers), Golticlay (where the council made an unfavourable deal with the developer rather than challenge the development), Tormsdale (coming up for a public inquiry), Watten (waiting on the decision of the Highland Council), and Ouglassy (at early planning stage).
Also, there are at least three massive new substations planned for the area north of Spittal – all of them also In Cllr Bremner’s ward.
Maybe this is just a coincidence because the Wick ward is bigger than the Thurso ward. And at least the council did object to some of the applications. Still, a councillor’s attitude will influence the future of his ward. This is why there are rules for councillors to remain neutral. This is why so often, when writing to councillors with concerns and problems, they are not able to comment.
Considering what SSE has in store for the far north (more wind farms, massive substations, multiple huge overhead lines), Cllr Bremner’s behaviour at the recent event is appalling and calls for him to immediately step down from his duties at the North Planning Applications Committee.
Kathrin Haltiner
Westerdale
Halkirk
Call to speak out on ‘judgement’
As concerned members of the Highland community, we were deeply struck by your article featuring Highland Council leader Raymond Bremner proudly participating in the grand opening of SSEN’s new hub for offshore development and collaboration.
Accompanied by SSEN transmission director Sandy MacTaggart, Councillor Bremner praised the hub as a “significant milestone for the Highlands,” celebrating its role in driving energy security, innovation, and economic growth.
But one has to wonder – has Councillor Bremner fully considered the optics and implications of his involvement?
SSEN is actively engaged in pushing through numerous planning applications related to its transmission projects, with many more expected to follow. As the leader of Highland Council and a member of its planning committee, Cllr Bremner’s enthusiastic participation in this event raises serious questions about his judgement.
Did he stop to reflect on how his actions might be perceived by the public, or how they could undermine trust in the council’s planning process?
Under the Highland Council’s Code of Conduct, strict guidelines exist to ensure impartiality, especially in regulatory or quasi-judicial applications. Specifically, section 7.9 of the code states that councillors involved in decision-making on applications must refrain from organising support for, or opposition to, any application. They must also avoid representing or appearing to represent any group with a vested interest. Most critically, they are tasked with ensuring no perception of conflict of interest is created.
Councillor Bremner’s participation in this grand opening – complete with press photographs and statements celebrating SSEN’s future plans – appears to conflict with these very standards. His public endorsement of SSEN’s investments and proposals could create the impression that any future planning applications from the company are already receiving the council’s tacit approval, long before any due process or public consultation has occurred. By positioning himself as a vocal supporter of SSEN’s projects, Bremner risks compromising his impartiality and the integrity of the Highland Council’s planning decisions.
Moreover, Councillor Bremner’s lack of sensitivity to the real concerns of his constituents is troubling. Many Highland residents are deeply worried about the impact of SSEN’s developments, with properties, livelihoods and landscapes all at risk. By appearing so close to the company responsible for these contentious projects, Cllr Bremner has signalled a worrying lack of empathy and respect for those most affected by these decisions.
We call upon Councillor Bremner to reflect on his actions and consider how they align with the ethical standards set out by the council. More importantly, we urge the Highland Council to ensure that any future involvement with SSEN or similar organisations is handled with the utmost care to avoid further conflicts of interest and to maintain public trust in the decision-making process.
For the sake of transparency and the confidence of the people of the Highlands, Councillor Bremner must clarify his position, reaffirm his commitment to impartiality, and ensure that all future planning decisions are made in the best interest of the community – not based on the agenda of large corporate interests.
The electorate deserves leaders who will stand up for their concerns, not cosy up to those who might threaten their homes and livelihoods.
Alison Ellerington
Latheron
Roads are in a state
In October I drove the length of the A9 from Perth to Thurso, the first time for years, and I must say the improvements made on the road as far as Inverness are excellent, and I enjoyed the journey to that point.
However, little has been done on the road from Inverness to Thurso. There we find rough surfaces, narrow carriageways, and deceptive bends - although expertly negotiated by the haulage drivers of companies such as Steven of Wick who provide most of the needs of the far north, given that the railway is still in its Victorian state.
Where improvements have been made they are minor and cheap. The work at Berriedale has only slightly improved things but what is needed there is a complete bypass inland. We hear constant demands for the dualling of the Perth-Inverness section of the road, but in fact the A1 from Alnwick northwards - the Great North Road - is more in need of dualling than the A9 because it carries far more traffic, including heavies, although the new Labour government has already reversed plans for that. No surprise there, given that they, like the SNP and the the Greens, are anti-car in their outlook.
While there are dangers at various junctions on the Highland A9 caused by line of sight difficulties at junctions, driver error is to blame for most accidents in my view. People get frustrated and try dangerous overtakes. They do not pay attention. They become distracted by the scenery, by listening to radio or a hands-free mobile phone conversation, or an onboard discussion or argument, or they may be under the influence of drink or drugs.
Foreign drivers forget what side of the road they should be on. Furthermore, drivers do not break their journey, driving from Inverness or from further north to Perth in one go. This can partly be explained by the lack of suitable stopping places with only narrow lay-bys and no aire de repos as they have in France.
It must be very difficult for HGV drivers to find a decent stopping place, especially if they are about to run out of driving hours. There is also one aspect to the road, and indeed all roads in Scotland, which is rarely mentioned - road noise caused by coarse surfaces which can be wearing on the driver on a long journey.
Most of Scotland's A class roads are in a dreadful state, and so are England's. When driving the A697 from Carfraemill to Morpeth for example, I wear ear defenders against the racket generated by the worn out rough and ready road surface. Meanwhile, successive governments spend billions on funding foreign wars against our national interest.
William Loneskie
Oxton
Berwickshire
