Our Press Release - 29th March 2025
On 27th March 2025 Communities B4 Power Companies sent a hard copy of a booklet entitled ‘Testimonials’ to selected elected representatives.
Testimonials is written by the people of the glens who are struggling with the mental strain of having their natural environment industrialised on an unprecedented scale by their own government to enrich global investment companies.
They care deeply for the natural world. The bribery offered to them to shatter their lives is slyly hidden under a green cloak of ‘community benefit’ and is repugnant to them. Nothing can compensate for their loss.
These are their words; their trauma; their suffering laid bare.
Who in power will take heed of their distress?
Digital copies to all other Highland councillors, MSPs and Scottish MPs will be sent out in due course.
Denise Davis from Communities B4 Power Companies and Testimonials coordinator says:
“The booklet was created by the people of the glens in an effort to help our representatives better understand how we feel about the proliferation of renewable energy projects and transmission infrastructure in our communities.
Their words have not been edited. You may see spelling errors and typos. These have been left to stress the emotional state many were in when they composed their testimonials.
The creators of the booklet feel it has merit and we believe it will go down in history as a record of the voices that were ignored. Much in the same way as the memoirs of slaves and abolitionists before emancipation, or the documented voices that raged against the Treaty of Union until its ratification.
Voices need to be heard and taken seriously or, as we have seen from so many historical events, suffering continues. And that suffering is always enabled for money. We will endeavour to make sure this booklet goes down in history”
Dan Bailey from Better Cable Route (Strathpeffer and Contin) says:
"Communities across the North of Scotland are inundated with energy projects that will bring huge negative consequences to our region, and vanishingly small benefit.
Proposals pop up everywhere, one after another, with no warning, no overall coordination, and no apparent end in sight. We are under siege. Far from standing up for the people who elected them, most of our politicians are ignoring our concerns, turning a blind eye to the impact of their policies, and even rolling out the red carpet to the bulldozers.
Our region is being sacrificed to all-powerful energy companies, and will be scarred forever. Homeowners face the catastrophic devaluation of their lifetime's asset; tourism businesses are under serious threat; and anyone who loves the Highlands grieves to see this fantastic place trashed for private profit. It's no wonder people are scared, angry, stressed and despairing. The impact of all this on our mental wellbeing is serious, and ongoing. It's time our Councillors, MSPs, MPs and Ministers paid attention to the tsunami of stress that Scottish and UK energy policy has unleashed on the people of our region. Who do they represent, communities or multinationals? At present the answer to that question seems all too obvious."
Lyndsey Ward from Communities B4 Power Companies Says:
“This booklet is a heart wrenching catalogue of misery. Those who read it cannot fail to be moved. It is only a snapshot of the horror and devastation felt across rural Scotland as all submissions could not be included. It is something that most of our elected representatives callously dismiss or ignore. Pleas for help have gone unheeded as the Big Energy concrete and steel road show engulfs those who have chosen to make their homes, raise their families and work within not always the easiest of environments. They are there because they care for the natural world and appreciate its value and importance to all.
They are not there to exploit and destroy it and they are suffering from a deep sense of loss as they see the land and trees torn up before them for the multinationals’ profit. They see their once quiet rural roads crumbling under the huge amount of noisy construction traffic. They see the very people elected to protect them backing the global investment companies and not their own citizens. It smacks of colonisation and undemocratic governance. The Scottish government either denies wrong doing to its people or blames Westminster. However, just as they banned fracking and nuclear under 100% devolved planning they can also ban this unnecessary reckless annihilation of Scotland’s natural places for private money.”
If you would like to see and hear the voices of some of the young people, born and raised in the Highlands, who contributed to the booklet's composition, please click on the link to our YouTube channel where you can view the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ppuy4JeztFg
Digital Testimonials booklet:
https://issuu.com/kilmorack/docs/sse_testamonials?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ
Contact: cb4pc.press@btinternet.com
Denise Davis: 07773 098658
Lyndsey Ward: 07899 035135
29th March 2025
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Elected Representatives who have been sent a hard copy of Testimonials
Highland Councillors
Sarah Atkin, Michael Baird, Chris Balance, Chris Birt, Raymond Bremner, John Bruce, Michael Cameron, Isabelle Campbell, Tamala Collier, Helen Crawford, Laura Dundas, Sarah Fanet, David Fraser, Laurie Fraser, Richard Gale, Ken Gowans, John Grafton, Alex Graham, David Gregg, Michael Gregson, Jackie Hendry, Barbara Jarvie, Andrew Jarvie, Russell Jones, SeanKennedy, Liz Kraft, Bill Lobban, Morven-May MacCallum, Isabelle MacKenzie, Struan Mackie, Andrew MacKintosh, Ryan MacKintosh, Angela MacLean, Thomas Maclennan, Duncan Macpherson, Duncan Mcdonald, Jan McEwan, Drew Millar, Hugh Morrison, Calum Munro, Leslie-anne Niven, Molly Nolan, Paul Oldham, Margaret Paterson, Morven Reid, Matthew Reiss, Trish Robertson, Karl Rosie, Maureen Ross, Liz Saggers, Maxine Smith, Ruraidh Stewart, Kate Willis.
MPS
Jamie Stone MP, Angus Macdonald.
MSPS
Ariane Burgess, Tim Eagle, Kate Forbes, Rhoda Grant, Jamie Halcro-Johnston, Gillian Martin, Edward Mountain, Emma Roddick, Douglas Ross, John Swinney, Maree Todd.
