SSEN have extended their deadline to allow people more time to comment on their proposals for a new power line to the west of Westhill.

More information can be found here:

https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/kintore-fiddes-tealing-400kv-ohl-connection/

Westhill and Elrick Community Council has submitted the following comments in response to the consultation:

At its meeting on 8th June 2023, Westhill and Elrick (WECC) discussed the proposals for the Kintore – Tealing project in the context of the community that we serve. It was agreed that I should write to you with the following comments.

1. The pink zone for the preferred corridor on the Route Options – Section F Plan impacts on a residential area and important woodland within the WECC boundaries. Many residents within our area will be directly impacted by visual impact from their homes. All residents will be affected by visual impact when out and about. It is therefore extremely disappointing that WECC received no communication of any form from you. We have become aware of the project through other avenues such as local residents getting in touch to express concern that it hadn’t been on our agenda. It would appear that even householders who live near the proposal did not receive notification of the information session in Kirkton of Skene. Given that WECC has not been properly notified, we are concerned that other residents might be unaware and therefore suggest that you extend the 23rd June deadline.
2. WECC is very concerned about the visual impact of the proposal from our community and within the surrounding countryside which is enjoyed by all. In particular the visual impact of the pylons against the backdrop of the Dee Valley and the hills surrounding it, will be detrimental to everyone, both residents and visitors to the area.
3. WECC believes that the line will have an adverse effect on saleability and value of residential properties at the western edge of our community.
4. WECC feels that the transmission lines should be underground for reasons of both visual impact and resilience.
5. WECC is very conscious that recent weather events in the north east of Scotland have led to widespread and very prolonged power cuts due to lines coming down. The impact of similar, or potentially worse, weather events in the future causing damage to this line will be far more serious and widespread given the strategic nature of the proposal. Communities and businesses well beyond the area would be affected. We question whether you and any operators that this line will supply would have the resources on the ground in so many places simultaneously to be able to support customers who have lost their supply whilst at the same time repairing the damage. A true cost benefit analysis should be done to assess this.
6. We note from paragraph 2.3 of the Consultation Document that an Onshore Underground Cable appears to have been dismissed at desktop stage without a proper technical, environment, whole cost/benefit assessment. The issue of resilience mentioned above is not mentioned at all in this superficial assessment and dismissal of the option. This is a major flaw in the the project proposals and should be addressed.