Friends of the Ochils Newsletter 27: Spring 2005

Pylon, and on, and on ... the saga continues

YOU WILL KNOW, from Robin Kelsall's articles in the last two editions of the newsletter, as well as from numerous references in the national media, that Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) wants to construct a monstrous new high-voltage power line, supported on huge, ugly pylons, all the way from Beauly to Denny. This power line is likely to tramp across Sheriffmuir, right alongside the area from which 36,000 people a year set off to enjoy Dumyat and its surroundings, then down the beautiful and highly visible scarp slope of the Ochils, right by Logie Kirk and on over the carse of Stirling. You may also have picked up the fact that, as more and more people find out about these proposals, a groundswell of strong opposition is building up.

What went on last year was in effect a phoney war - SSE testing the water to see what sort of reactions there would be from the public and from other bodies. Now the real war is about to commence. At the time of writing, we're expecting SSE to announce its final proposals for this power line any day now - indeed, it might already have been announced as you read this. And this time, they'll be formally applying to Scottish ministers for permission to build the line - and if that is granted, the line will get built, no matter who says what thereafter.

We all, as members of the public, are given just 28 days from the day on which the announcement is made to write in and register our concerns. This is very little time indeed. But it's really important that as many people as possible do write in. There's no doubt that the volume of protest makes a very great deal of difference to the politicians taking the decisions, and conversely that when only a few people write, that is construed as general acceptance of whatever is being proposed. We have the privilege of living in a democracy - and that gives us the responsibility to get involved, as well as the right to do so. This is likely to be your last chance to make your views usefully known on this subject.

So please, if you feel concerned about the proposal to route this hideous new power line through the peace and tranquillity of Sheriffmuir, Dumyat and Logie, do make your views known in writing. FotO will be sending an information pack to every member, to give more background, details of people you can phone or email to clarify any questions, some idea of the sorts of things you could say in your letter, even a pro-forma letter for you to sign and send if you don't want to write individually. And, of course, details of whom you need to write to.

If you've written before, please, write again, even if you just send a copy of the same letter as last time. Whatever you've said in the past will have been worth saying, but needs to be repeated now, to be counted in this final assessment of these proposals.

Those of us who have been following the developments around this power line over the last year have massive concerns about what's likely to be proposed. Here are some of them:

• It looks likely that SSE is ignoring the scores of letters that people wrote to express concern about how the line would impact on the Logie-Dumyat -Sheriffmuir area. Other areas of wonderful landscape, further north, are also threatened by the line - and there, too, groups have sprung up, with local people questioning what's being proposed and campaigning to preserve their precious areas.
• Despite the amount of opposition expressed last year at public meetings and in writing, SSE does not appear to have given serious consideration to the option they themselves identified earlier: of putting the line to the west of Stirling, rather than to the east and over Sheriffmuir and down to Logie. SSE doesn't seem to care much about public opinion - but the politicians, who will be the people making the decisions from now on, do. And this option should be thoroughly explored.
• Independent investigations suggest that putting the line underground, through appropriate terrain (not over Sheriffmuir), is much less difficult, less intrusive and less costly than SSE has made out. This may offer a feasible alternative in the Stirling area, one that is much more likely to satisfy nearly everybody, but it hasn't been given proper consideration.
• More evidence is emerging about how badly people's health can be affected by living close to high-voltage overhead power lines. More people are calling for new lines to be located at least 400 metres from any dwelling - or to be put underground. It looks likely however that the SSE line will go more or less over the top of one house in the Logie area, and closer than 100 metres to many houses.
• And many people are in no way convinced that the new line is needed at all, or is needed to go inland through Scotland.

These are big issues, and the proposals will undoubtedly raise big questions. The FotO committee believes it will be impossible for issues of this size and importance to be satisfactorily discussed and resolved solely within the Scottish parliament - MSPs have neither the time nor the expertise. The committee, when it responds formally to the proposals, will call for a wide-ranging public inquiry to be set up, to give the opportunity for all facets of the many relevant questions to be thoroughly aired in front of a competent and impartial judge. The committee urges you, too, as a member of FotO and lover of the Ochils, to write in, stating your concerns and adding your support for setting up a public inquiry into this crucial issue.

Nicki Baker

Newsletter 27 Index