Our Press Release - 30th August 2024
THE ARROGANCE OF SSE/SSEN KNOWS NO BOUNDS AS FAR AS RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED!
As is now common knowledge SSEN and parent company SSE are behind multiple massive infrastructure and energy projects across rural Scotland.
The need for these companies to export wind energy out of Scotland for the sole financial benefit of the global investment companies who own them is robustly refuted by Communities B4 power Companies (CB4PC) and its 3500 members.
What is in no doubt is that the arrogance and gung-ho attitude of this multinational is plain for all to see.
In recent times stunned rural residents have seen and learned of increasing intended planning applications and the unwanted behaviour of those submitting them has been disrespectful to the affected communities and downright obnoxious at times.
In the heavily targeted areas of Beauly, Kilmorack and Kiltarlity SSEN staff told astonished residents at their public consultation last year that it would be like ‘spaghetti junction’ with all their transmission wires and Beauly was ‘death by location’. Beauly; named by Mary Queen of Scots, so legend has it, when she referred to it as ‘this beautiful place’.
Not when SSEN has finished with it!.
As the planning application submissions get closer more and more disrespect and arrogance is on show for all to witness.
Today we learned that SSEN want to shut the vital Black Bridge over the River Beauly for one month to survey it to enable them to carry out necessary works to take heavy construction traffic for a substation they haven’t submitted a planning application for yet!
We know, via a FOI, that the Scottish government has not refused any of theirs (or SSE’s) planning applications for over fifteen years so are they so sure of success that they are trying to get ahead of the game?
Any of the lengthy diversions will be costly for the motorist – including farmers and those delivering their children to school. Who will compensate them?
Yesterday we learned about a turbine blade stuck on the Dores road en route to SSE’s Aberader wind farm.
This was reported on the Stratherrick & Foyers Community Face Book page with an overhead view of the debacle. It would appear that SSE was previously warned by the Community Council & local residents about using this route for their monster blades but went ahead anyway and blocked the road.
This week we noticed that the young trees SSEN had planted at the entrance to their Balblair substation monstrosity had been dug up. What we assume was an attempt to screen some of their industrial kit was clearly deemed disposable when the diggers started work. So much for SSEN’s ‘green’ credentials.
Last week we learned that SSEN’s Kimorack and Aigas ‘replacement’ substations required permission for contractors to operate noisily for seven days a week for two years with absolutely no consideration for the local residents who will also be impacted by the Black Bridge closure and the proposed 400kv overhead lines and monster pylons. This non-stop working has been hotly objected to on the planning pages of Highland Council.
On top of all that members of the local community found out, from the last published minutes, that SSEN had approached THEIR community forest in order to use it as an access to where they wish to construct a Beauly Denny sized pylon line across the unspoilt hills towards Spittal. The construction traffic would require a five year access rendering the use and enjoyment of Aigas Community Forest a far and distant memory for visitors and the local people.
Lyndsey Ward from Communities B4 Power Companies (CB4PC) says:
“These are just a few examples of SSE/SSEN’s tentacles sneaking into and disrespectfully disrupting our lives. What is happening here should serve as a warning to everyone affected by the plans of SSE and SSEN and other energy developers. They only care about their shareholders and their bottom line. The cumulative impact of all their applications is going to be horrendous if they get their way. This scatter gun approach is ludicrous and desperately unfair to those expected to suffer the construction and consequences for years to come. We need a more informative approach by our local authorities with details of all energy proposals mapped as soon as they are lodged with the local authority. We would also urge anyone with examples of energy developers being disrespectful, ‘jumping the gun’ prior to submitting planning applications or operating outwith any permissions to contact their local authority and demand action. If they wish they can also contact CB4PC with details.
In addition Aigas Forest is a community project and should stay a community project without the hobnail boots of Big Energy allowed to stamp over it and spoil it for those who enjoy its peace and tranquillity”.
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Contact: cb4pc.press@btinternet.com
