YOUR VIEWS: SSEN respond to planning success and frustration at public transport
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Strength of process behind planning success rate
In reply to your article of March 29 (‘100% approval’ for power firm), I would like the opportunity to put these unsubstantiated claims into a more objective context, focusing on the facts rather than baseless theories.
At SSEN Transmission, we have significant experience and expertise in the development of the north of Scotland’s electricity transmission network that powers our homes and businesses, connects and transports the renewable power required to tackle the climate emergency and is the backbone of our economy.
Our developments are informed by extensive public and statutory stakeholder consultation and we follow robust processes, in line with all necessary planning and regulatory policies.
To illustrate the robustness of our planning processes, prior to the Scottish Government’s determination of our planning applications for overhead lines, these are first considered by relevant local authorities and other statutory consultees. In the 15-plus years since the Beauly-Denny line was referred to a public local inquiry, we have submitted in excess of 40 overhead line planning applications and on just three occasions have objections been raised by local authority planning committees.
On all three occasions, these objections went against the clear recommendation of those local authorities’ own planning officers and for two of these decisions, there were no other statutory stakeholder objections to consider.
We believe this clearly highlights that the success we have experienced in planning reflects the strength of our planning processes and applications, rather than any suggestion of us being given a clear path to consent without objection.
As we continue to develop the critical national infrastructure required to help deliver our national endeavour for a cleaner, more secure and affordable energy system to secure power for future generations, we remain committed to consult extensively with all stakeholders to help ensure our final proposals balance stakeholder feedback against key environmental, technical and economic considerations and the planning and regulatory policies that underpin the robust planning regime under which we operate.
Peter McKessick
Head of development
SSEN Transmission
Public transport is not a viable alternative
I guess nobody relies on the trains these days but this is worth knowing should you be planning a trip north or south. ScotRail are frequently cancelling services so check with them first before you plan your journey.
All it takes is a conductor to phone in sick and the whole service is cancelled! ScotRail apparently don’t have any cover for incidences of sickness.
Last week they cancelled the last train of the day south from Wick so anyone hoping to catch the train back south from any of the stations in the north would have been stranded. ScotRail sometimes organise a replacement bus but, despite it being 2024, aren’t able to tell you how long you will have to wait as they don’t track this bus after it leaves Wick.
You may have to wait half an hour or the bus may not turn up at all (this has happened to me several times in the past). You would think they could ask the bus driver to phone in every couple of stops but ScotRail are either completely apathetic towards the few people still relying on trains or it’s beyond their wit!
On Monday, ScotRail cancelled the mid afternoon train, so anyone hoping to get the train south from Lairg or Tain or anywhere else between Inverness and Wick will be stranded. I phoned ScotRail and they told me that a conductor was off and that they weren’t providing a replacement bus.
It’s worth considering the above and also the unreliability of Stagecoach buses, too, when you hear politicians claiming that they want people to use their cars less and consider public transport as an alternative option. Of course there are votes in pretending to care about the environment and climate change but please don’t be fooled.
Alan Roberts
Kinnairdie Avenue
Dingwall
ONLINE VIEWS
Artworks in lanes ‘will stand as a lasting testament’ to Wick heritage
The people of Wick deserve better, look at the buildings on the main street. First impressions count and while dodging potholes you can see that the council don't care with the state of the place. Give us something to be proud of.
Noel Crann
Lybster
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