Moray SNP News

RICHARD LOCHHEAD ENCOURAGES CONSTITUENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO UK GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION

The UK government is currently holding an open consultation looking at how to ensure communities impacted by the installation of new electrical transmission network infrastructure can benefit.

With the need for clean energy and more energy security there needs to be more infrastructure built across Scotland and the UK.

Given the likely extensive developments across Moray and focused around the town of Keith in the coming years, Mr Lochhead is keen that people make their voice heard through this consultation.

Commenting Mr Lochhead said:

“It remains a bone of contention amongst my constituents in Moray that we host a disproportionately large amount of energy infrastructure such as pylons and substations to get locally produced power transmitted to the rest of the UK but rather than enjoying the benefit from producing so much power in our region we actually end up with some of the highest household bills in the whole of the UK.

“Being energy rich but fuel poor is a gross injustice and is down to the failure of the UK’s energy policy.

“I have often said that communities that host energy infrastructure should receive community benefit and finally, because the UK Government probably expects some concern elsewhere in the UK, it has finally decided to act, despite the fact that the north of Scotland has faced these issues for years. So, we are going to get a UK wide consultation.

“I hope this results in meaningful benefits for local households and businesses and any community benefit should be retrospective in my view.

“It is therefore important that we all make our feelings known to the UK Government via this consultation thereby, hopefully, securing some benefits for eligible communities in Moray.”

The consultation runs until the 25th May 2023. Please see the following link:

Community benefits for electricity transmission network infrastructure - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)