Latest news with #ScottishPowerEnergyNetworks
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Can a re-routed cross-border pylons plan appease locals?
Energy network bosses hope that a revised route for taking energy to England will appease at least some rural residents of the Scottish Borders. Since plans for the Cross Border Connection were revealed last year protest groups have been formed in communities near the proposed pylons. Following the backlash, Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) have altered several sections of the 57-mile route between Lauder and the border, south of Newcastleton. But Rosi Lister from Action Against Pylons - a collection of local community protest groups - warned: "It's all very well revising the route, but as soon as you move it from one place you affect another community." SPEN project manager Ewan Borthwick said: "Historically we've had energy coming from the south - England and Wales - through nuclear and hydro, so it's now our turn to send renewable energy the other way." The Cross Border Connection is seen as a vital link in the UK upgrade of the national grid. Dozens of wind farms and solar energy parks - from the Highlands all the way down to the Borders - are already connected to the grid, with many more projects in the pipeline. Finding a suitable route for the 60-metre high pylons, between a proposed new electricity substation near Lauder and awaiting cables at the border near Carlisle, is proving problematic for SPEN. And bosses have ruled out an underground solution. Mr Borthwick added: "We know from previous projects that it is between six and nine times more expensive for an underground cable solution, rather than overhead. "Going underground would take this project from the hundreds of millions [of pounds] into the billions, and we have a licence from Ofgem to come up with the most cost-efficient solution. "It will be the electricity bill payers that will be paying for this over the next 50 years or so." The revised route has taken the planned pylons further away from the villages of Roberton and Etrrickbridge - but moved them closer to settlements at Craik and Yarrow Feus. There is also more use of areas already covered in forestry and the new route will have less impact on the World War II prisoner of war camp at Stobbs, outside Hawick. More stories from South Scotland Listen to news for the Scottish Borders on BBC Sounds SPEN's environmental planner Malrlene Marimbe said: "We reviewed all of the feedback from the public and statutory stakeholders during the consultation for the original route and modified the original preferred route. "We believe this alternative route is more balanced when it comes to the concerns we received about visual impact and also the attractiveness of the landscape. "We also took into account concerns about environmental impact as well as health impacts of proximity to residential properties." The latest consultation over the route will end on May 2, with the official proposed Cross Border Connection route being published later in the year. Around half a dozen community protest groups along the route have come together to form Action Against Pylons. Rosi Lister from the group said: "We believe this will destroy a large part of the Scottish Borders. "It's all very well revising the route, but as soon as you move it from one place you affect another community. "There are no winners with these pylons." Protesters to fight cross-border giant pylon plans
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
A new route for a cross-border pylons plan - can it appease locals?
Energy network bosses hope that a revised route for taking energy to England will appease at least some rural residents of the Scottish plans for the Cross Border Connection were revealed last year protest groups have been formed in communities near the proposed the backlash, Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) have altered several sections of the 57-mile route between Lauder and the border, south of Rosi Lister from Action Against Pylons - a collection of local community protest groups - warned: "It's all very well revising the route, but as soon as you move it from one place you affect another community." SPEN project manager Ewan Borthwick said: "Historically we've had energy coming from the south - England and Wales - through nuclear and hydro, so it's now our turn to send renewable energy the other way." The Cross Border Connection is seen as a vital link in the UK upgrade of the national of wind farms and solar energy parks - from the Highlands all the way down to the Borders - are already connected to the grid, with many more projects in the a suitable route for the 60-metre high pylons, between a proposed new electricity substation near Lauder and awaiting cables at the border near Carlisle, is proving problematic for SPEN. And bosses have ruled out an underground Borthwick added: "We know from previous projects that it is between six and nine times more expensive for an underground cable solution, rather than overhead."Going underground would take this project from the hundreds of millions [of pounds] into the billions, and we have a licence from Ofgem to come up with the most cost-efficient solution."It will be the electricity bill payers that will be paying for this over the next 50 years or so." The revised route has taken the planned pylons further away from the villages of Roberton and Etrrickbridge - but moved them closer to settlements at Craik and Yarrow is also more use of areas already covered in forestry and the new route will have less impact on the World War II prisoner of war camp at Stobbs, outside Hawick. SPEN's environmental planner Malrlene Marimbe said: "We reviewed all of the feedback from the public and statutory stakeholders during the consultation for the original route and modified the original preferred route."We believe this alternative route is more balanced when it comes to the concerns we received about visual impact and also the attractiveness of the landscape."We also took into account concerns about environmental impact as well as health impacts of proximity to residential properties." The latest consultation over the route will end on May 2, with the official proposed Cross Border Connection route being published later in the half a dozen community protest groups along the route have come together to form Action Against Lister from the group said: "We believe this will destroy a large part of the Scottish Borders."It's all very well revising the route, but as soon as you move it from one place you affect another community."There are no winners with these pylons."
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Thousands without power days after Storm Éowyn
Thousands of homes are still without power days after Storm Éowyn caused destruction across Scotland. Scottish Power Energy Networks, which supplies central and southern Scotland, said about 5,000 homes had no supply on Monday morning. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said it was still working to restore power to a further 2,700 homes - many in Argyll, Kintyre and in island communities. Some rail services are still experiencing disruption after the whole network was closed on Friday - but ScotRail said the vast majority of services are now operational. The following routes will not reopen on Monday, according to Network Rail: Kilwinning - Ayr/Largs/Ardrossan Dalreoch – Balloch Ayr - Stranraer Paisley Canal Paisley - Gourock/Wemyss Bay Most schools are expected to reopen, though the Scottish government said about 20 will remain closed for repairs. Following a meeting of the Scottish government's resilience room, First Minister John Swinney said: "The severity of the damage caused by this major event has had a considerable impact across a wide area of the country. "While every effort has been made over the weekend to fully restore services, unfortunately it is clear some disruption can continue to be expected." At the storm's peak, hurricane-force winds caused more than 280,000 homes to lose power across Scotland. SSEN said customers have been provided with realistic updates on when they can expect supply to be restored with those awaiting reconnection urged to monitor SSEN's power track website. The provider estimated all customers will be reconnected before the end of Monday. It has also provided warm spaces, hot meals and drinks to people in several communities who have been impacted by the storm. Andy Smith, SSEN director of customer operations for the north of Scotland, added: "Several hundred engineers are working hard right now to fix faults safely and quickly, and we've had a group arrive from the southeast of England on Sunday morning to support our own response." Teenager dies after car hit by falling tree In pictures: Storm Éowyn's trail of damage SP Energy Networks' Scotland Distribution Director, Aileen Rourke said power has been restored to 97% of impacted customers. Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, she said: "This is unprecedented for us, all six of our districts have been impacted by the storm which is highly unusual. "We are now in repair mode and have lots of work to carry out," Ms Rourke said over 400 engineers are working 24/7 to get the energy restored to the 5,000 homes still without power. Several buildings were damaged by strong winds including Celtic Park where a Scottish Premiership match against Dundee was postponed. In Glasgow, a 400-year-old tree with connections to Mary Queen of Scots was severely damaged. A number of branches on the Darnley Sycamore – said to be where Mary Stuart nursed Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley back to health after a long illness – were blown off during high winds. In Edinburgh, the Royal Botanic Gardens saw the loss of 15 trees including Edinburgh's tallest tree - the 29m (95ft) cedrus deodora, planted in 1859. ScotRail has advised customers to expect continued disruption of services. Teams of Network Rail engineers have been checking routes through the night since Friday and carrying out repair work, with around 500 individual incidents reported. These include more than 120 trees on tracks, damaged overhead wires, power supply failures and other objects and debris blown onto the line. David Ross, ScotRail's communications director, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme it had been "a very challenging weekend" and there was "still significant impact across the country". He said: "A lot of work has been carried out over the course of the weekend by colleagues at Network Rail. "The vast majority of routes are up and running but there is still ongoing disruption is some parts of the country." He said damage to overhead wires had caused cancellations in Ayrshire and Inverclyde. Overhanging trees at Whifflet in Coatbridge had also caused disruption and trees were still falling onto the lines elsewhere in Lanarkshire. "It is a changing picture and it will change over the course of the morning again," Mr Ross added. He warned some damage won't be a "quick fix" and disruption could last a few days. Ferry operator CalMac has cancelled sailings between Ardrossan and Brodick on Monday, with other sailings facing possible disruptions. Passengers are advised to check their journey before travelling. Police Scotland responded to almost 1,900 weather-related incidents across the country over the weekend with some roads closed or disrupted due to debris and fallen trees. A 19-year-old man was killed in Ayrshire when his car was struck by a fallen tree.
