Results of the Public Inquiry into the 400kv Beauly-Denny line through the National Park will only be known in 2008

As objectors were heard at the recent enquiry into the proposed power line upgrade, held in Newtonmore in September, it became clear that the common aim of all the campaigners is to keep massive pylons off our land. The transmission of 40% of the power generated in Scotland to England and Ireland is not an objection as long as it does not destroy the countryside.

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There is a strong danger that a 'Pylons vs underground cable' campaign could develop and deflect from the real issue of finding more satisfactory ways to transmit power.

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), when challenged by reporters at the recent public enquiry, admitted that the existing pylons running down the east coast of Scotland have the capacity to transmit the proposed increased volume of renewable energy from the Western Isles. However, this would still require an underground cable from Ullapool to Beauly. Earlier this year AMEC proposed a way round this. They suggested an undersea cable down the west coast to transmit power created in the Outer Hebrides. This would be less costly than the overland route proposed by SSE, but less attractive to the company, as it would lose the monopoly on power transmission.

In May, the Shetland Times reported that the world's longest submarine power cable could be laid between Shetland and the south-east of England to carry electricity to the nation's cities. The Crown Estate is studying the feasibility of a multi-billion pound cable being laid along the entire east coast of the UK, coming ashore at up to seven points between Shetland and London to upload more power from other electricity-generating schemes or offload supplies to urban areas.

If these projects went ahead then the current line through the Highlands has ample capacity to cope with smaller renewable projects and distribute power throughout Scotland.

What happens next? The Inquiry report is scheduled for the middle of 2008, then the Scottish ministers will give their decision on the proposed plans. After that, the report will be made public.

As the above alternatives suggest, there are ways to transmit power that don't destroy our landscape, heritage sites, environment, and tourist industry or put people's health at risk. Over the coming months C.R.A.P. will be lobbying the politicians to give these options serious consideration.

Please help us to raise the necessary funds to keep up the pressure, by drawing the attention of friends and family to this website and giving away as many of these campaign tea towels as you can. We greatly appreciate your support.

To see some of the wealth of opposition, visit www.ramblers.org.uk and www.jmt.org

For information regarding the Beauly-Denny power line Inquiry please visit the dedicated website. This site is provided to inform media and other interested parties with online details of the Inquiry, submissions, timetables and other documents. It is maintained by Scottish and Southern Energy at the Reporter's request but all content and control lies with the Reporter. This editorial policy will be strictly enforced during the course of the Inquiry.