| A view to make the spirit soar |
| This particular view may now be saved. However, turn the other way, and you could yet see a line of giant pylons marching into the distance! Your help is needed - read on, and see how you can assist our campaign for an environmentally friendly solution to the problem of transmitting renewable energy from the north of Scotland to the south. |
| Our campaign starts in the area around Ullapool, which is affected by a proposal to build a high voltage power line to take energy from wind farms in the Western Isles to cities in the south. This grid connection, if built as an overhead line, would be supported on steel pylons 50 metres (164 feet) high, and may yet be clearly visible in the view above. The most likely route of the overhead power line runs from Ardmair, near Ullapool, to Beauly, passing through areas varying from idyllic coastal, to wild mountains, to rural farmland - all of which should be protected from what is, in effect, a major industrial development. |
| A first public consultation considered five possible routes for an overhead power line across the Highlands, with no alternatives presented. A further consultation was then launched, in which it seemed that the developers had listened to concern about the impact of an overhead line on the environment and communities of the Highlands, since they are now proposing an underground cable as the preferred option. If, however, the underground option proves unacceptable for any reason, then we are back to square one, with the overhead line described above. |
| It is important to acknowledge that, whilst infinitely better in landscape, health, and local economic terms, an underground cable is not without its environmental costs. There are other alternatives that have not yet received proper independent scrutiny. These best alternative, put simply, is for an undersea cable taking the electricity south to England, and we will continue to campaign for this to be considered. At a higher level, we promote fundamentally different alternatives based on energy savings, and more locally based electricity generation. |
| The Ardmair/Ullapool to Beauly line is just the first link in a very long chain of transmission lines that is being proposed to take electricity from the north of Scotland to the south. Beyond Beauly, the route continues with a proposed new 400kV transmission line running to Denny in the central belt of Scotland. However, Scotland is currently a net exporter of electricity, and it will therefore be necessary to reinforce the network further south through the borders. At the final destination, work is already in hand in London, with the construction of a new 400kV line underground - the London Connection. |
| At a more general level, we are faced with a conundrum. On the one hand we are firmly in favour of increased use of renewable energy sources. On the other hand, we believe that Scottish landscapes are a national asset of immense value, that should not be ruined with industrial installations. The solution seems increasingly clear - the true future of renewable energy lies off-shore, with tidal, wave, and off-shore wind power, and considering this we believe that a system of undersea cables off both east and west coasts represents the best value for money in the long term. |
| HBP has also formed links with communities affected by the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade, now formalised as the Scotland before Pylons alliance, and at the other end of the line, with those on Lewis affected by the wind farm proposals. If it transpires that a route is chosen that runs through other areas of the Highlands, we will work with communities affected, should they wish to oppose the pylons proposals in their area. On an international scale, HBP has joined other anti-pylon groups to form a European Federation against High Voltage Power Lines. |
| This web site aims to provide what we believe is clear and unbiased information relating to the core issues, drawn from all sides of the debate. Once you have had a look, and made your mind up, we hope that you will feel sufficiently motivated to write a few letters objecting to the power line proposals. |
| Page last updated 25 April 2008 |