SSEN public meeting set to offer residents a last chance to voice opinions on controversial electricity infrastructure plan for west of Beauly
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Members of the public are being invited to a “last chance” meeting next week to consider controversial plans to upgrade electricity infrastructure near Beauly.
Held at Kilmorack Hall on Wednesday, January 24 from 3pm to 7pm, the Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) event will focus on plans to replace an existing substation near the venue.
It will be the last opportunity for concerned members of the public to make their views known prior to the power giant's pre-planning application to Highland Council.
The project is part of a wider SSEN asset replacement project across an area west of Beauly which includes three other substations at Deanie, Culligran and Aigas.
The four substations, built in the 1960s, are said to be reaching the end of their operating life, with the assets and components at each site needing to be replaced.
EXPLAINED: Why are Highland communities protesting about super-pylons?
SSEN has faced a barrage of local and broader Highland criticism over plans to create a new "super-pylon" line – reaching heights of 65 metres – and supporting infrastructure from Spittal in Caithness to Beauly, and past Inverness to Peterhead.
Residents living near the pylon routes and substation sites have raised concerns over the scenic, environmental and health impacts of the project.
SSEN says that the substations, which have helped to power the local community for over 60 years, must be replaced to ensure green renewable hydroelectricity energy can continue to be produced in the local area.
They also say the new substations must be located outwith existing substation compounds because new transformers require more space to meet modern health and safety standards.
A further consideration, they claim, is the challenge of keeping the hydro power stations connected to the network during the construction phase for the new transformers.
SSEN Transmission is aiming to ensure the new substations are located within one kilometre radius of the existing site, to ensure minimal electrical losses.
The public event next week is the final statutory event forming part of the formal proposal of application notice (PAN) for Kilmorack Substation.
The project team will be on hand to answer any questions and feedback will be open for seven days following the event.
The meeting follows on from a previous consultation event in October last year.
SSEN Transmission is expecting to submit planning applications for all four of the substations including Kilmorack in the spring later this year.
Lee Wilson, SSEN Transmission senior development project manager, said: “The event next week in Kilmorack will provide an opportunity for members of the public to learn more about our plans to upgrade and replace the infrastructure at the existing site at Kilmorack.
“This forms a key part of our wider West of Beauly Asset Replacement project which involves replacing four substations which transmit locally generated hydroelectricity to the national grid to ensure they continue to operate safely and reliably.
“The current asset has been helping to power the local community for almost 60 years, connecting locally generated hydroelectricity to the grid.
“Replacing this substation at Kilmorack, along with the other sites at Deanie, Culligran and Aigas, ensures we can continue to transmit clean renewable energy for years to come.
“We’ve been working with the local community to take on board their feedback for these projects and look forward to welcoming them to our event next week to share their views and find out more about our plans.
“We’ll endeavour to keep the local community and stakeholders updated as these projects progress.”
Those interested can learn more about the project by visiting the SSEN Transmission website here.
