Ex-energy boss says Beauly-Denny line was ‘done deal’
Claim decision made before inquiry
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THE ex-chairman of Scottish Power has claimed that the Beauly to Denny pylon line was a “done deal” even before the year-long public inquiry into the project.
Sir Donald Miller also said the hearing was not allowed to hear evidence from him which could have saved electricity customers millions of pounds.
Sir Donald, now retired, said he was disappointed by weekend reports that Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) had received Scottish Government approval for its favoured £350million overhead line, which would mean 200ft pylons replacing many smaller ones on the 137-mile route – much of it through sensitive landscape including the Cairngorm foothills.
He said: “It’s a pretty poor do and the thing was clearly politically motivated.
“We got the impression at the inquiry that the politicians seemed to think this was essential to meet their windfarm objectives and the reporters were taking this on board. If it was not a done deal, why did they not consider an alternative?”
Sir Donald was barred from submitting his own analysis of a cheaper option of upgrading an existing east coast transmission line on the grounds that his evidence was “late.” He said it became evident during the hearing that no serious alternative had been considered by the developer. His estimate for the eastern route, using the same financial and technical expertise SSE adopted for its Beauly to Denny plan, would trim 10% off the £350million cost of the upgrade.
“The real advantage is that it wouldn’t go through the gateway to the Highlands,” Sir Donald added.
Verdict
The Scottish Government said ministers would deliver their verdict on the inquiry “before the end of this year”.
There was no let-up in the angry reaction to the weekend reports yesterday.
Scottish Natural Heritage chief executive Roger Crofts said the power line scheme risked a “fundamentally important area of landscape”.
Ramblers Scotland chief Dennis Canavan warned that large tracts of wild countryside would be “desecrated”.
David Gibson, of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, said approval would “ignore evidence provided to the public inquiry”.
A spokeswoman for Visit-Scotland said it remained “concerned about the potential visual impact the proposed line could have on Scotland’s vibrant tourism industry”.
