ScottishPower is due to begin a period of voluntary community consultation regarding its visual mitigation proposals for a 14km section of the consented Beauly to Denny overhead transmission line. In total, ScottishPower is constructing 20km of the 220km line. The consultation will commence on September 29th with the publication of the Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme Consultation Report, and will run for 30 working days.

The voluntary consultation period is in addition to both the formal consultation required by a condition placed on the overhead line consent and the engagement which has already taken place through the Stirling Council Beauly to Denny Steering Group.

The Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme Consultation Report contains engineering and environmental studies by experts who specialise in transmission infrastructure and the routeing of overhead lines through the landscape. The studies considered the requirements of the visual mitigation condition imposed when the power line was consented earlier this year.

The approval of the overhead transmission line by the Scottish Government followed consideration of all aspects of the development during an extensive Public Inquiry process and is subject to a detailed and comprehensive range of conditions.

Frank Mitchell, ScottishPower Energy Networks Director, said:

“Scotland has the best renewable energy resources in Europe, and the consented Beauly to Denny overhead transmission line is essential to enable this green energy to reach homes throughout the country and help the UK and Scotland achieve its carbon reduction targets.

“The publication of the Report is an opportunity for ScottishPower to share its proposals for visual mitigation with the local communities and stakeholders and we look forward to hearing the views of all interested parties.”

ScottishPower will use the comments which are received on the Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme Consultation Report to assess their proposals, prior to their formal submission of the Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme to the Scottish Government. The formal submission will be subject to a further consultation of 30 days between the Scottish Government and Stirling Council, prior to a decision being made by the Scottish Minister.

Copies of the Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme Consultation Report will be made available in a variety of different formats and locations including online and through public viewing at Libraries in Dunblane, Bridge of Allan, Stirling, Fallin, Bannockburn, Cowie and Plean as well as Stirling Council’s Viewforth Office.  Advertisements will separately be placed in the local press providing full details of where copies of the Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme Consultation Report can be obtained and are located as well as how the local community stakeholders can provide their comments to ScottishPower.

Media information: Paul Ferguson: 0141 566 4515 / 07702 665 924

Notes to editors:

1.  ScottishPower has been granted planning permission to upgrade the 20km section of the 220km line that lies within the company’s network area

2.  The 20km section extends from the north of Stirlingshire to Denny near Falkirk

3.  The mitigation areas detailed in the condition of consent are –

19.—(1) Neither the overhead transmission line or the towers carrying that line shall be installed or constructed in the area of Stirling Council until–

(a) the applicant has submitted to the Scottish Ministers for approval a scheme prepared in accordance with this condition setting out proposals to mitigate the visual impact of the 400kv line in the Stirling area (“the Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme”); and

(b) the Scottish Ministers have, after consultation with Stirling Council, approved the Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme.

(2) The Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme is to include proposals for:

(a) the mitigation of the visual and landscape impact of the line between the top scarp of the Ochil Hills at Cocksburn Wood  (TD199) and Airthey Castle (TD203)

(b) the mitigation of visual and landscape impact of the line between Logie (TD203) and Glenside TD244,

(3)  The Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Scottish Ministers.