Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray has been pushing Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) to pursue plans for the Dumfries and Galloway Strategic Reinforcement Project which are “more in line with the views of local people.”
Elaine met with representatives from SPEN on Monday 5th October to discuss the possibility of undersea and underground cabling for the project, a far more favourable option for her constituents than the current proposed 400kV overhead line. She has also requested a preliminary meeting with the Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing MSP, to apprise the Scottish Government of her constituents’ concerns.
SPEN will publish the results of the public consultation on the current planned corridor towards the end of the year.
Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray said:
“There is a clear feeling in my constituency that the current proposed plans for the Dumfries and Galloway Strategic Reinforcement Project are severely wrong for this area. The sheer scale of these new structures is an automatic turn off, and it’s only right for SPEN to pursue a less invasive solution. We need an alternative plan which is more in line with the views of local people. That’s why I’ve been meeting with SPEN and urging them to pursue underground and undersea cabling.
“While it seems that, due to the level of infrastructure needed, undersea cabling is looking an unlikely possibility, they are beginning to warm to the idea of underground cabling if there is good reason for it. My view would be that the opinions of local people is the best of all reasons. That’s why it’s so important for objectors not to lose heart.”
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