Pylon scheme marks 'beginning of the end for the Highlands', Dunbeath meeting is told
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Communities along the route of the proposed new pylon line through the north Highlands are "powerless" and need strong voices in parliament to stop the industrialisation of the landscape, a public meeting in Caithness has heard.
Far north politicians Maree Todd and Jamie Stone were told that the plans by SSEN Transmission for a 400kV overhead line between Spittal, Loch Buidhe and Beauly mark "the beginning of the end for the Highlands".
There was a turnout of more than 70 for Wednesday's meeting organised by Dunbeath/Berriedale Community Say NO to Pylons, a subgroup of Berriedale and Dunbeath Community Council.
Ms Todd, the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, and Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, each gave a brief address before facing questions from the audience.
Ms Todd emphasised that she is "absolutely committed" to ensuring local voices are heard and said she hopes a solution can be found that "strikes the right balance".
She made it clear that the Scottish Government's ministerial code means she is unable to express a personal opinion on the project at this stage. She is the minister for social care, mental wellbeing and sport.
One member of the audience warned that the pylons will be as high as a "22-storey building".
He said: "We really need people in parliament and in power that are going to fight for us. As a community here we're fighting for our homes, we're fighting for our way of life, we're fighting for what we believe in, and we are powerless.
"We're the small people – we don't kid ourselves. We know exactly what we are.
"Historically we've always been marginalised. We're a minority up here. We're discriminated against.
"And that's why we need strong people in Holyrood and in Westminster to stand up and fight for us, because we can't do it ourselves.
"Spittal to Beauly is just the beginning of the end for the Highlands. If you look at the sheer industrialisation, we're losing our way of life here.
"We're powerless – we're fighting big companies, big business and big politicians."
If the scheme goes ahead there will be about 167km of new pylons as well as substations at each of the three locations. The average height of the towers will be 57 metres, with a maximum height of 65m.
SSEN says it is part of a "transformational upgrade of the transmission system", with the north of Scotland playing a key role in delivering the low-carbon power that is needed to meet UK-wide targets.
Ms Todd acknowledged the "substantial community response and the upset and anxiety caused to many people" by the proposals and said "poor communication at the outset" had resulted in a lack of trust in the transmission company.
"I think most people would agree there is a need for modernisation and reinforcement of the electricity transmission system across Scotland and Great Britain, but it is absolutely crucial, I believe, that the voices of the impacted communities are listened to," she said.
"Throughout this period, my approach has been to engage directly and regularly with SSEN to ensure that the views of my constituents are informing and influencing the development of the project.
"I am keen to hear your views and take these back to my colleagues in the Scottish Government and to SSEN."
Ms Todd outlined the different responsibilities of the UK and Scottish governments over energy policy and planning.
"The threat of global warming is a real one, and climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing mankind," she said. "The energy supply disruption caused by the war in Ukraine, and resultant inflation and hike in prices for absolutely everything, has amplified the calls for an accelerated transition."
She said she was committed to ensuring that communities affected by new grid infrastructure and onshore renewables "receive substantial benefits".
Ms Todd also pointed to the high rate of fuel poverty in the north.
"In the Highlands we are energy rich but fuel poor," she said. "The Highlands should be reaping the benefits of the energy it produces, but instead the UK government has made the policy choice to penalise the region."
The meeting in Dunbeath village hall was chaired by community council chairman Angus MacInnes.
Ms Todd told him: "I heard you say in your introductions that you're also keen to hear my opinion, but unfortunately I won't be giving you that. As many will be aware from previous public meetings, I am a government minister and constrained by the ministerial code."
But she stressed: "I am absolutely committed to ensuring that your voices are heard in this process."
Issues raised by others in the audience ranged from grid capacity, constraint payments and the "costs and consequences" of the scheme to nuclear policy and the impact on tourism, while some feared that an overland pylon route would lead to a proliferation of new onshore wind farms.
Related stories:
- Pylons will 'destroy the Highland way of life', SSEN delegation is told
- Plea for north pylon scheme to be halted over net-zero statistics
- 'People versus birds' is a factor in choice of coastal route for pylons
- Transmission upgrade will mean 'significant changes to some landscapes'
- Pylon scheme concerns raised at Dunbeath: 'It is time for communities to say enough'
- Caithness protest group heartened by public response over 'mega' pylons
- Power line across Highlands 'will support thousands of skilled jobs'
At a public meeting in Dunbeath last month, Greg Clarke, head of corporate affairs at SSEN Transmission, acknowledged the strength of feeling among local residents.
He said: "We appreciate there is lots of concern.
"Why is this project needed? Why are we looking to develop this overhead line?
"The overarching reason is to deliver targets that have been set by both the UK government and Scottish Government. These are the targets that they have set and are committed to, under law, to be net-zero in Scotland by 2045 and across the whole of the UK by 2050.
"There is also a target to be energy independent."
