In our Highland communities where the giant pylons, substations and electrical infrastructure would cause unacceptable damage, it is still evident we have not been listened to. The application consists of hundreds of documents that would take a team of professionals months to work through, understand and make proper considered comment, yet they are giving people and councils one month to respond. Some of the information included and read so far, has been commented on as incomplete, weak and inadequate. Not the full picture.
It has caused fury and outrage that with something of such magnitude it is considered acceptable by SSEN the ECU and Government Ministers, to give local people and communities that would be affected by this, so little time to read through, understand, check and respond.
It has been called in the press, undemocratic and a mockery of the planning system.
Government ministers have been reported as saying they cannot comment on live applications, yet they are happy to award very publicly, contracts to build the pylons within the last few days, to a company outwith the Highlands. In addition, despite none of the plans being approved yet, there are continual reports of Murphys, one of the contractors, increasing the works they are doing under the guise of ground investigations, and developing worker bases and yards, without planning permission having been granted. To local people, who are far more important here than politicians and energy companies, this all smells very bad. We have to be fair and play by the rules, when others seem not to .
Members of community councils affected are calling for a Public Local Enquiry and looking at the possibility of The Highland Council submitting a holding objection in order to trigger one.
The Scottish Government has already said that there will be no extensions for responses. The application is so large that it traverses the council’s two planning committees. The local authority’s response is likely to be determined at a special meeting where it could raise an objection.
If an objection is raised by the council, then it would trigger a public local inquiry. If that happens, evidence and testimony are prepared and reviewed by a reporter who makes a recommendation to Scottish Ministers.
If that does not happen then the case will be decided by the ECU and Scottish Ministers, which is why the under-resourced community councils want adequate time to understand technical elements.
The deadline has also been difficult to confirm, with some areas giving 6th and some 12th October to respond, but all agree it is unacceptable.
WE NEED A PUBLIC ENQUIRY SO THAT THIS ENTIRE PROJECT CAN BE SCRUTINISED AND QUESTIONED FULLY AND VERY PUBLICLY
Please communicate this as much as possible and put pressure where you are able on your representatives to help to make this happen.
We need the Highland Council to step up and act for the wellbeing of the Highlands, its land and the communities and people it represents.
To view the Section 37 application
Either go direct to the application with this link
https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationDetails.aspx?cr=ECU00006008
Or failing that go to www.energyconsents.scot . Choose ADVANCED SEARCH and in the box called ECU REFERENCE put ECU00006008 and then click GO .
To Make a representation/ Objection.
Email to representations@gov.scot remembering to include the following ECU REFERENCE: ECU00006008
or by post to
The Scottish Government
Energy Consents Unit
4th Floor , 5 Atlantic Quay
150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU
