Plans for a new substation at a Highland beauty spot were short-circuited yesterday by councillors angry that a lengthy site visit did not include the site itself.
They also complained about a dearth of information presented by senior planners on behalf the applicant SSE, demanding more detail before revisiting the project in future.
Objectors to the proposed Garbole, Tomatin, substation made their point, greeting councillors with a protest prior to the shortened debate at the council’s Inverness headquarters.
The substation is required to accommodate wind generation for an area south of Inverness.
A total of 27 out of the council’s 80 members travelled from all corners of the region to consider the proposal for a 40ft tall substation and overhead powerline connection to Inverness that the Scottish Government will rule on.
Inverness councillor Jim Crawford secured a vote to defer consideration of the substation plan insisting on access closer than the one mile distance they reached by coach during the morning, to “get a feel for the place”.
He and numerous colleagues also argued that the plans were short on images of how the substation would appear in the landscape.
Principal planner Ken McCorquodale told them he felt the visit had taken into account “some of the key interests” he believed were relevant, but few agreed with him.
SNP councillor Bill Lobban was amazed there was only one photograph of the intended site and “no representation of the topography of the site in its finished state”.
Members voted 16-11, with one abstention, to postpone the debate until receiving more comprehensive information and a site visit.
Project manager Simon Robertson of Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission said: “The planned substation is part of a wider project to reinforce the electricity transmission network in the area.
“During the course of the project, we conducted a programme of extensive consultation and have modified our plans in response to feedback received from the local community and interested stakeholders.
“We note today’s announcement and will continue to work constructively with all parties to provide the information required for a fully informed decision.”
