Wild Land News no 64, Autumn 2005

Beauly - Denny Powerline Article

Davie Black

As we go to press it appears that the application for consent to construct the 400 KW electricity transmission line between Beauly and Denny is about to be submitted to Scottish Ministers. There is then expected to be an 8 week formal consultation period on the proposal to upgrade the existing 132 kV line to 400 kV. The existing pylons are generally around 25-30 metres (82-98 ft) in height with the proposed new pylons around 50-60 metres (165-195 ft) in height. Some sections of the new line would be on a different alignment to the present line.

It is anticipated that there will be vigorous opposition to this project on the grounds of landscape impact from local communities and other interests located along or close to the line of the proposed powerline. Furthermore many other organisations across Scotland and further south, who are concerned about the impact of the powerline and its relationship to the government's energy and environmental policies, are likely to object.

Questions are also emerging on the need for the upgraded powerline, especially as opposition is increasing to large scale, land based windfarms in Scotland and government policy is beginning to point more in favour of such large scale schemes being located offshore. This is likely to increase the need for subsea rather than long distance land based transmission. There are also developing concerns at the provision of land based transmission lines through northern England, required especially to export wind generated energy to electricity demand centres further south. All this points increasingly for land based wind energy generation in Scotland to be designed to meet local needs, reducing demand on the grid, and further reducing the need for a huge powerline traversing some of Scotland's finest wild country.

Davie Black is the Wildland Campaign Officer for the Ramblers' Association Scotland, Kingfisher House, Auld Mart Business Park, Milnathort, Kinross, KY13 9DA
Tel: 01577 861 222 Fax: 01577 861 333
Email davieb@scotland.ramblers.org.uk
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland/

Little and Large: The Skye pylon line disfigures miles of otherwise unspoiled country and culminates in monster pylons either side of the Sound of Sleat.