SSEN’s bid for a 400 kV air insulated substation along with associated works at Hurlie bog in Fetteresso Forest was refused planning permission today after a divided committee vote and a determining casting vote from the chairman – Stonehaven’s Cllr Alan Turner.
It was an incredibly tense ending to an exhausting, all day sitting by Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, who heard from speaker after speaker raising, for the most part, objection after objection.
Various themes were returned to repeatedly – in particular, the cumulative impact on the landscape of the proposed substation along with the existing and soon to be extended Fetteresso substation, the proposed Kintore to Tealing 400 kV overhead line, the proposed Bowdun Wind Farm tie in and other projects either already declared or known to be in the pipeline.
Mark Ansell of Crathes Drumoak and Durris Community Council said: ”The siting of a large substation does not respect the rural context. It would be an overbearing and industrial presence in a quiet rural environment.”
He added: ”The cumulative impact must be assessed as having an unprecedented effect.”
Planning officers repeatedly advised Councillors that only existing structures and those already in the planning system should be considered in terms of cumulative impact.
But campaigning objector Brian Wade branded the Hurlie substation as the ‘thin end of the wedge’. And Eileen West of Deeside Against Pylons echoed his words, saying by itself, the substation provides no purpose.
Cllr George Carr was the champion for all those opposing the application – he proposed a motion to refuse permission.
There was support
Planning officers’ found no objections from their statutory technical consultees and recommended Councillors grant permission.
The economic need was argued by Jason Stewart of the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce who spoke to the importance of the transmission infrastructure for the North East of Scotland’s hopes for future investment and prosperity.
This was the stance taken by Cllr Dawn Black who said the development was important to retain the area’s energy capital status. And she downplayed the level of opposition to the proposals by saying only 20% of local residents had objected – leaving the remaining 80% as either ambivalent or in support.
And Ms Black tabled an amendment to Cllr Carr’s motion – to grant permission along with conditions that should be carefully monitored. She said she understood all the impacts the development could have but as Hurlie was commercial plantation it was a more appropriate location than on agricultural land as had first been proposed at Fiddes.
High voltage atmosphere at vote
Various Councillors eventually broke cover and declared themselves, including Cllr Turner, who said he was very troubled by the application.
”I am really concern in therms of the landscape. I have trouble with the landscape aspects both from looking at something that is irreparably changing the landscape – it would be the end of the area big time, it is rural right now.”
He added he was worried about what we are doing to nature.
”What harm are we are doing? I am very much troubled by this.”
Once a competent and seconded motion (to refuse permission) and amendment (to grant permission) were on the table, Cllr Alan Turner moved matters along to the required conclusion.
There were 14 councillors in the committee – and once the committee secretary had called each in turn the outcome was seven for the motion and seven for the amendment. So Cllr Turner was called for for his casting vote – which he again gave to Cllr Carr’s motion to refuse.
