The 117 giant pylons planned by SPEN for the Kendoon to Tongland Reinforcement Project is currently undergoing a public enquiry in Kirkcudbright this week, despite the council withdrawing its original objections.
Local Councillor Pauline Drysdale for Castle Douglas & Crocketford said, ‘I am dismayed that the council have taken this course of action, despite 950 objections from the public. This will be one of the largest engineering projects ever undertaken in Dumfries & Galloway and some sections of giant overhead pylons will, without doubt, adversely affect tourism, destroy areas of natural beauty and damage our forests, roads, wildlife & fauna. We are so incredibly proud of our beautiful countryside, our Dark Sky Park status, our Biosphere Certification and the areas of natural scenic importance which is why the public are so outraged and upset. SPEN really ought to have considered undergrounding to protect our scenic areas and in particular The Otter Pool, Loch Stroan, The Raiders Road, the C13 out of Laurieston to Gatehouse and The Black Water of Dee for example. It was because of this I originally objected through the official channels, declared a note of interest in the case in April 2021 and my colleague subsequently read out the objection statement at that planning committee meeting.’
Cllr Pauline Drysdale continued, ‘Constituents are expressing their disappointment and telling us that they just want transparency. They need to see the documents given out at both meetings on 9th June and 12th October and feel that the explanation currently offered to the public as to why the council pulled out is scant and doesn’t seem believable.’
Cllr John Denerley for Dee & Glenkens added, ‘The impact this will have on a range of matters such as local tourism, the economy and particularly the rich environment and ecology is extremely concerning. A huge number of trees will be cut down and wildlife will be affected which is concerning as we are already one of the world’s nature-depleted countries. All elected councillors ought to have been informed as to the withdrawal at the last minute, but refusing to say why, is unacceptable. Those concerned about the plans are still urging SPEN to consider an alternative proposal to bring power in through underground cabling and the public have a right to know what interaction has taken place between SPEN and the council.’
