Strathpeffer and Contin Better Cable Route group flags public meeting amid 'ambush' concerns on SSEN 400kV overhead line consultation
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PEOPLE power in Ross-shire communities aims to generate constructive dialogue with an energy giant planning a massive transmission network revamp affecting a swathe of the county.
Concerns that SSEN's 400kV overhead power line from Spittal in Caithness to Beauly could adversely impact locals for generations to come has sparked calls for a full consultation on the preferred route and a promise that all options – including more expensive underground cabling – will be considered.
Strathpeffer and Contin Better Cable Route (SCBC) has called a public meeting in Contin tonight as two possible routes run through The Heights, Kinellan and Contin woods, or along the foot of Knockfarrell and both go through Jamestown.
The group's Dan Bailey said: "We welcome renewable energy in the Highlands and recognise that there is a need to upgrade transmission infrastructure. While the Highlands have great renewable resources, this is also a wild and scenic area with a vital tourism industry. People live here, and we are heavily affected when national infrastructure comes to our communities."
The concern is that these impacts "represent costs that local people, who stand to gain nothing from the line, will be paying for generations to come".
The group wants "open and thorough engagement" with SSEN showing willing to invest "in doing a job we can all be proud of".
SCBS has set up a website to share information and ideas and is concerned the consultation process to date "has been tokenistic, carried out in a rush and with very incomplete information" with many unaware it was happening.
He said: "People have only until the end of March to comment on the initial stage of the consultation.That’s less a consultation than an ambush."
He believes a proper public consultation would assess the costs and benefits of a much wider range of options from the outset. He said: "We are ready to engage constructively and positively with SSEN to find a solution with the least overall impact. However, moving forward the company are going to have to try a lot harder if they want to earn community buy-in."
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A public meeting at Contin Village Hall is being held this Friday at 7.30pm so people can find out about and share their thoughts on the proposals.
SSEN says it sent leaflets advertising the events to over 29,800 properties along the route plus newspaper and social media adverts and email-shots. It is encouraged by feedback and says "it is essential we get as many views as possible so we can developed balanced proposals in collaboration with the local communities".
It says it is working on a community benefit fund in line with government policy and will provide an update in coming months.
Martin Godwin, community liaison manager for SSEN, said: “The Spittal, Loch Buidhe, Beauly project is in early development, and at this stage no overhead line positions have been identified. We are currently seeking feedback to help us determine a proposed approximately 1km wide route for each section of the development, we will then seek further feedback on these proposals, with consultation events expected to take place later this year.
"We would like to thank everyone who has shared their feedback so far, it is important for us to get a variety of different opinions at this very early stage and every stage of the project’s development, so we can develop our proposals for this critical project in partnership with the local community. If you haven’t already we encourage everyone to review our phase one proposals and share their feedback via our project page by March 31."
In the 2022 British Energy Security Strategy, the UK Government committed to consult on community benefit for strategic network infrastructure projects to ensure that local communities benefit from hosting transmission infrastructure.
SSEN says: "We completely agree with this sentiment – it is crucial that our communities in the North of Scotland receive a social and economic benefit from the infrastructure required to ensure the UK reaches it’s net zero targets and facilitate it’s energy security, so we are pro-actively working with our regulator to ensure that we can provide a real community benefit. Work is ongoing to agree the mechanisms to provide such a fund and we look forward to providing you with an update on this in the coming months."
