Scottish Tories demand Highlands pylon & turbine pause

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

Residents raised concerns over the industrialisation of the Highlands, noting that 'no financial compensation can ever replace what we stand to lose'.
Mr Findlay has said the Scottish Government must engage with stakeholders and come up with a way to protect the countryside from being damaged by infrastructure.
He said: 'Those who have to live in the shadow of overdevelopment are all too often ignored by Scotland's planning system.
'The SNP and Labour have both acted to curtail public opinion in relation to the building of new pylons, transformers and battery farms, so the voices of rural communities are not being heard.'
Mr Findlay also praised the work of Aird and Loch Ness councillor Helen Crawford, who set up the convention.
He noted: 'The SNP and Labour have both acted to curtail public opinion in relation to the building of new pylons, transformers and battery farms, so the voices of rural communities are not being heard.
'That's why Helen Crawford's work in establishing the Highland convention is so important.
'I wholeheartedly support the unified statement issued at the convention, and my party will do everything it can to seek an urgent debate on it in Holyrood.'
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At the meeting, community councillors representing more than 72,000 people called on the Scottish Government to pause a 'barrage' of major renewable energy proposals, expressing concerns over the 700 live planning applications submitted to Highland Council.
11 cross-party MSPs and MPs were present at the summit, although Climate and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin and Under-Secretary of State for Energy Michael Shanks both declined to attend.
The convention's 'unified statement' calls for a pause on all major applications, "given the impact upon our communities which may hasten depopulation in some areas until a clear national energy policy is in place and an economic impact assessment is undertaken given that tourism is currently the backbone of The Highland economy".
Mr Findlay added: 'During my ongoing tour of communities across Scotland, and after discussions with Helen, it is clear an unjust energy transition risks harming vast swathes of Scots.
'The SNP's energy strategy, already three years late, must be published immediately and they need to rethink their misguided policy of scrapping local planning inquiries.
'A temporary pause to ensure we get this right is common sense.'