In the closest of votes, Highland councillors have objected to SSEN’s proposals to build a “massive” power line from Fort Augustus to the Isle of Skye.
Campaigners say it sends “a clear message to both wind farm developers and energy companies that the Isle of Skye is not for sale”.
Two community groups had called for Highland Council to reconsider its position on the proposed Skye-Fort Augustus Reinforcement Project.
Communities B4 Power Companies (CB4PC) and Skye Windfarm Information Group (SWIG), which have around 2,000 and 1,000 members respectively, said the council’s earlier ‘no objection’ decision was made without energy network SSEN illustrating evidence of need for the scale of the project.
They said the project, which would change the existing single circuit line into a double circuit line, was being sold as a necessary upgrade to ‘keep the lights on’, but lays the groundwork for future onshore windfarm applications.
Two Highland Council planning committees for the North and South areas, which cover the span of the power line, held a special joint meeting on Wednesday November 8, when councillors voted 11 to nine in favour of objecting to the plan.
After the meeting, the 1,200 strong Skye Windfarm Information Group (SWIG) said: “Thank you to everyone from this group who took the time to write to councillors in the last week and to the group members who made the trip to Inverness.
“Skye councillors Drew Millar and Ruraidh Stewart led the motion to object in the face of advice from officers who recommended no objection. The councillors said they had been inundated with emails and that had a huge effect.
“We saw council planning officers prevent members objecting on wider grounds – including the lack of economic benefit to local communities and the environmental damage that will be caused by the construction of the line.
“However councillors stood firm and chose to object to the power line on the grounds of new environmental information provided.”
Andrew Robinson from SWIG added: “Why should permission for a larger power line be given when it is not known if the wind farms will ever be built? As the larger power line is dependent on the wind farms and the wind farms need the power line the only way to make good planning decisions for Skye would be for there to be a public inquiry into all the proposals faced by the island.
“Are 10 wind farms, with nearly 150 turbines, many 200m high appropriate for a top tourist destination with a world renowned landscape? Skye’s economy now depends upon the beauty of its natural environment.
“SSEN’s own smaller ‘option 1b’ for the power line was never presented to the council, community councils and residents. That option would cost less, would be quicker to build, and would cause less environmental damage and disruption along its entire length. It is SSEN’s decision to seek planning permission for a power line larger than needed that jeopardises the power supply to Skye and the Western Isles.
“This sends a clear message to Scottish Government, energy companies and wind farm developers that the wind farms and power lines being proposed piecemeal for Skye are not appropriate for such a beautiful place. The Isle of Skye is not for sale.”
A spokesperson for SSEN Transmission said: “We are extremely disappointed by the decision from Highland Council to object to our Fort Augustus to Skye Reinforcement project following the recent submission of additional information, which goes against the recommendation of the council’s planning officers and the previous decision by the committee.
“The existing overhead line was built in the 1950s and is fast reaching the end of its operational life, as demonstrated by two major faults earlier this year which resulted in the temporary loss of power to over 20,000 customers, with its replacement critical to keep the lights on for homes and businesses across Skye and in the Western Isles. It will also enable the connection of new renewable electricity generation along its route, supporting energy security and climate change targets.
“We now look forward to the Scottish Government’s timely determination of our Section 37 application and remain committed to work constructively with all stakeholders to deliver this critical national infrastructure, which is essential to keep the lights on and support the transition to net zero.”