AS CONSULTEES in an application made to the Scottish Government, Aberdeenshire Council last week made ‘No Objection’, to SSEN’s proposals for a double circuit 400kV overhead line between Kintore and Tealing.
To install or operate certain overhead electric lines (typically above 132Kv), Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 requires a consent from the Scottish Ministers. The applications are processed by the Energy Consents Unit.
The formal consultation for the Kintore to Tealing line was submitted to local authorities on September 19 – starting the clock on their eight-week response period.
Angus councillors raised their voice
Last Monday, at a specially convened council meeting in neighbouring Angus, elected members voted unanimously to reject their Chief Planning Officer’s recommendation for a response raising ‘NO OBJECTION’.
Instead, Angus Council objected to the proposed overhead pylons, saying adverse impacts were not outweighed by benefits of the proposals. They also noted a lack of clarity on project mitigation and biodiversity enhancement.
Aberdeenshire’s councillors meanwhile had their input restricted to those members whose wards are on the route of the pylons and who were approached for comment.
Their collated concerns are recorded in Appendix 2 and include cumulative landscape impact; the impact on prime agricultural land and the pylons’ compatability with modern agricultural equipment; lack of consideration of local bird populations; and both the loss of existing woodland and resultant impact on protacted species.
Response delegated in Scheme of Governance
Paul Macari the head of planning and economy, provided the local authority’s response to the Energy Consents Unit. He did this using power delegated to him in the Council’s Scheme of Governance. This document which is annually reviewed by councillors, specifically delegates the response to consultations from Scottish Government on planning matters.
In his response letter dated November 18, Mr Macari notes land use planning policy which: ”Provides a high level of support for both energy proposals (including transmission) and national developments (the application falling witin both categories).”
And it would appear a string of statutory consultees were all sufficiently content with the proposals to give them the nod subject to various conditions.
Mr Macari’s letter states: ”In light of this context and in absence of any objections from key statutory consultees, (SEPA, NatureScot, HES and Transport Sotland), the Planning Servce consider that the threshold for objection cannot be met.”