2 June 2006
Tourism is a vital component of the Stirling economy and historical sites are integral to this. Stirling Castle attracts 400,000 visitors each year and the Wallace Monument 123,000 visitors. They are two of the most important visitor destinations in the whole of Scotland. The route of the proposed Beauly to Denny power line impacts on these and a large number of other historical and tourist sites as it runs through Stirling. Figures provided by Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) in their Environmental Statement seem to suggest that the Stirling economy could lose millions of pounds per annum.
The guide 'Scotland the Best' by Peter Irvine, which 'makes all other guides to Scotland redundant' (The Sunday Times) and 'the only guide to Scotland the Scots use' (according to the Glasgow Evening Times), identifies eight important locations within the Stirling area that the line would affect. Moving from north to south:
There are other locally important attractions along the route, such as the award winning Coffee Bothy and Farm Shop, the Witches Craig Caravan Park within 100m of the line and Bed & Breakfasts which will be drastically affected.
SSE have said publicly that the major reason for not looking at a route to the west of Stirling is the views from the castle in that direction. The views to and from the castle are undoubtedly very important.
Unfortunately theirs is a very partial perspective. Every visitor to the castle looks eastwards across from the esplanade with its memorial to Robert the Bruce, to the Wallace Monument, with Dumyat hill behind, directly where the power line will cut a swathe down through Yellowcraigs Wood to the carse. The importance of this iconic view is highlighted by the number of times it is used: for example, 'The New Penguin History of Scotland' chose it for their dust cover photo. By contrast very few visitors, possibly as few as 5%, make their way to the western end of the ramparts to look out at the view in that direction. SSE's Environmental Statement (ES) acknowledges the line might affect up to 25% of visitors and would have a High Negative Effect.
One of the main attractions of the Monument is the views from its top. To place a line of giant pylons so close would detract enormously from this national monument. Since the film 'Braveheart', the monument has become a much more important visitor attraction. It is inconceivable that anyone would consider damaging the environment around, say, Nelson's column, or a similar national monument, in a comparable way.
The ES quotes the impact of the power line as having a High Negative Effect, and a 'major impact on views [that] would spoil the enjoyment of tourists' experience' in its chapter on Tourism and Recreation, but then denies this in its Visual Impact Assessment where it claims that the pylons will have a minimal impact: 'Magnitude of Effect - low', 'Significance of Effect - minor adverse' and 'Cumulative Visual Impact - no significant effect'. This is not a credible analysis.
Stirling Before Pylons recommend that an independent analysis of the methodology for visual assessment be commissioned from the Virtual Landscape Centre at the University of Stirling, and that they be asked to analyse the visual impacts using the more sophisticated, flexible, 3-dimensional techniques that they have developed.
This was the principal battle of the Jacobite '1715' Uprising and is commemorated by the Gathering Stone and two cairns at the roadside. The battle involved more clans and clansmen than did Culloden. The battlefield is open to the public and widely visited. Anniversary celebrations of the battle involve hundreds of participants.
The proposed power line cuts through the battlefield exactly where the Jacobite army stood prior to commencement of battle. Rather than being allowed to be defaced by the proposals, the site deserves much greater recognition than it has received to date. Indeed it has considerable potential as a tourist venue which could be developed to significant economic benefit.
Much of this part of the Ochil Hills is officially designated as being an Area of Great Landscape Value. Dumyat, the hill most affected by the power line, and its immediate environs, is visited by 36,000 people a year, from the Sheriffmuir road.
This is because of its accessibility - 2 million people live within an hour's drive - and because of the spectacular views from its summit which include 14 Munros to the west and Edinburgh to the south-east. Because of its accessibility, the hill is climbed by a surprisingly high number of tourists, both British and foreign. The proposed power line goes straight through the main car parking area for accessing the hill, and would include no fewer than 3 giant pylons in the immediate vicinity of the start of the walk.
The ES goes to some lengths to assess the likely impacts on the tourism- related economy of the areas affected along the line. It concludes that its results represent a robust view of the business community across and along the proposed route. SSE conducted a survey of tourism-related businesses along the proposed line, including 34 respondents from the Stirling area, comprising accommodation, visitor attractions, fishing, wildlife areas, golf courses and restaurants. SSE deemed their survey to be reasonably representative of all tourism-related businesses within 10km of the proposed power line, an extent that would include all of the City of Stirling.
The survey identified that, from Beauly to Denny, no fewer than 46% of tourism related businesses within 10km of the proposed line anticipated it would have a significant or negative impact upon their business. The results were even worse for the Stirling area, with 57% in the Braco, Strathallan and Sherrifmuir area and 48% in the Blairlogie, Stirling and Denny areas saying there would be a negative effect. Stirling, because of the high concentration of businesses, would be expected to be by far the most affected section of the line.
SSE conclude - bizarrely - from this that the survey findings show 'a positive outlook with more than half the people surveyed stating that the line would have no significant or adverse effect upon their business'! (our italics).
The ES looks at the impacts on tourism and only where levels of business would be expected to be reduced by more than 15% are they recognised as 'major'. Smaller impacts are deemed by SSE to be 'not significant'.
Tourism contributed no less than £234 million to the economy of the City of Stirling1 in 2004. While the figures quoted in SSE's Environmental Statement are far from clear or complete, one interpretation could suggest that the Stirling economy could lose £12 -18 million per annum, in the early years after the line was completed.
Even if the figures quoted in the ES overstate the impact, these impacts cannot be ignored or defined away as 'not significant', as the ES attempts to do. SSE must be challenged to provide all the relevant data resulting from their survey, and these must be independently assessed. The results must be an important element in deciding this application.
Members of the public and businesses had until 12th December 2005 to submit written responses to SSE's proposals to the Scottish Executive. The address for comments is :
Energy Consents Unit
Scottish Executive
Meridian Court
5 Cadogan Street
Glasgow
G2 6AT
Peter Pearson - phone: 01786 833399; e-mail:
Nicki Baker - phone 01786 833399; e-mail:
Website: http://www.stirlingbeforepylons.org/