WELL, WE CALLED for a Public Inquiry (PI) to look into all aspects of the proposals for the Beauly to Denny power-line upgrade, and now we've got it. In mid-September the Scottish Executive announced not only that there will be a PI, but that the formal process was starting immediately.
The PI itself is to take place over about a six-month period, starting in February 2007. It will be in four stages. The first, to be held in Perth, will cover all the general and national aspects of the proposals - things such as whether the line is really needed, whether it has to go inland, and what would be involved if it were put underground; the health issues of living close to high-voltage power lines, and how Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) have conducted the development of their proposals. There will then, we understand, be three area-specific inquiries, dealing with all the local issues. The last of these, to be held in Stirling, will cover the Stirling and Falkirk areas.
Friends of the Ochils will be working alongside partner organisations, such as Stirling Before Pylons and Ramblers Association Scotland, to explain the importance of the Ochils, set out our concerns as to how badly they would be damaged by the giant pylons and all their accompanying construction works, and ask for consideration to be given to putting the line underground, along a different route, such as beside the M9 / A9.
There's going to be a huge need to get as many people as possible - including, we hope, a number of members of FotO - to give their own personal evidence to the Stirling inquiry. Having local people showing they are prepared to stand up for the places they love is a crucial and invaluable part of building the evidence for the importance of the area. If you're prepared to give this a go, do let me know!
We are going to be stretched to our limit to cope with this PI. The Executive gave no advance warning that they would be calling it - their first pronouncement on the issue was a formal statement that the process was about to commence. At the time of writing all details are still to be revealed, but we think the process is going to be allowed only the normal, minimal time for the preparation and submission of cases - which inevitably gives a huge advantage to the developers, SSE, who have had much more time, and infinitely more resources, to prepare. We understand also that SSE are going to put out a massive amendment to their proposals at the end of October, which we will all have to get our heads round in very little time. Games-playing, one wonders?
The Executive is showing no appreciation, either, of the fact that the Beauly to Denny PI is going to be running at the same time as the final, crucial, conjoined session of the four Ochils windfarm PIs. Our resources are going to be extremely tightly stretched, working on both PIs simultaneously. I have to say that my belief in democracy has taken quite a hard blow of recent months and years, as we have gone through this process. Little more than lip-service is given by the powers that be to the views of the public, and the process is undeniably heavily stacked against us.
Nevertheless, we will fight as hard as we can to keep the Ochils free from giant pylons, heavy-duty construction tracks and all their attendant destruction. But we really do need more help - whether of relevant expertise, if you have it, or funding (and an appeal letter was recently sent out). So please, do contact me if you have any expertise to offer. We know you may not want to get over-involved, and won't pressure you to do or give more than you feel willing to do, but at times it would be of great help to have, for example, someone to talk to about technical issues.
So please help us to fight on, in your name! If you can offer expertise, a donation, or to speak at the PI, please do get in touch.