North-east residents battling plans for a string of pylons to be built on their local landscape claim an energy giant is “ignoring” their concerns.
Locals have joined forces to oppose Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission (Shet) proposals for a “corridor” of the 165ft structures, which could pass close to Bennachie and other landmarks.
The West Aberdeenshire Pylon Action (Wapa) and Craigearn, Leschangie and Monymusk Pylon Action (Clampa) groups have united in objections to the plans.
And now members claim they feel “lied to” and that the firm has already decided on the locations of the pylons.
Shet – part of Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) – wants to erect the pylons as part of a back-up power line between Blackhillock and Kintore.
Residents recently met MSPs and representatives from SSEN and Shet at the Scottish Parliament to discuss the issues.
Wapa chairman Bill Henderson said: “After the meeting at Holyrood I was shocked to hear that they had already decided on the corridor that they are going to use.
“They had even decided on this before they started the consultation, and yet they called it their preferred corridor.
“To me preferred means that there are other options, but that was actually not the case. I now feel cheated and lied to by SSE.
“We have had a lot of support from public figures so I am shocked that SSE are not listening to us despite the clear opposition the plans are facing.”
He added the energy firm “do not seem to care about the feelings of locals or the damage they will be causing to the countryside”.
A spokesman for Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said it was still in the “early stages of developing” the proposals.
He added: “We are keen to engage constructively with local communities and others interested in our work in order to answer questions and provide accurate information where we can.
“We were pleased to be able to hold an event at the Scottish Parliament last month to discuss our proposals with MSPs and with a representative of the local campaign group who attended. As new information becomes available, we will continue to engage openly.”
He added: “As a responsible developer, we seek to do this with sensitivity to the natural environment and consideration for the views of members of the public and a wide range of statutory and non-statutory organisations.”
Wapa are holding a public meeting at Rannes Hall, in Kennethmont, on Thursday, October 27 at 7pm to discuss the plans.
