Moray SNP News

MORAY MSP SUGGESTS UNDERGROUNDING CABLES

Moray MSP, Richard Lochhead, has written to the company dealing with connecting the Dorenell Wind Farm to the national grid asking them to consider undergrounding cables.

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) are currently planning how they transfer the energy generated at the wind farm from Dorenell to Blackhillock Substation near Keith.  SSE currently intend to connect the two sites with overhead cabling.

After having been approached by a number of constituents who are concerned about the overhead cabling MSP for Moray, Richard Lochhead, has written to the Chief Executive of SSE suggesting that undergrounding the cables ‘merits serious consideration’.  Mr Lochhead has asked SSE to investigate this option to avoid a negative visual impact on the area affected, particularly as part of the area is in an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV).

Commenting, Richard Lochhead MSP, said:

“I have been contacted by quite a number of constituents who are extremely concerned about the impact that overhead cabling will have on the local landscape.  Local businesses are worried about the impact on the tourist industry and others are anxious about the effect on an area which is designated as an Area of Great Landscape Value.

“That is why I think that investigating undergrounding the cables from Dorenell to Blackhillock merits serious consideration.  Therefore, I have written to the Chief Executive of SSE asking them to consider this proposal.

“This, to me, is the best of both worlds.  Undergrounding would get the two sites connected but would alleviate local concerns and worries.  I hope that SSE will consider this as a positive option.”