Strathpeffer protest against route of upgraded powerline

A protest has been held against the planned route of an upgraded electricity power line in the Highlands.

About 30 people held a demonstration during a consultation event in Strathpeffer by energy firm SSEN Transmission on Monday.

SSEN Transmission said the upgrade was needed for connecting power generated by renewable schemes in the north of Scotland with consumers across the UK.

But campaign group Strathpeffer and Contin Better Cable Route claimed the firm had not listened to its concerns.

The campaign’s Dan Bailey said the proposed route would take the line through woodland at Contin and near the historic village of Strathpeffer.

He said: “We have been trying to engage constructively with this company as a community for the last two years to come up with a solution to routing in an area that would be acceptable to more people.

“It seems that has fallen on deaf ears.

“They could hardly have chosen a worse route.”

An SSEN Transmission spokesperson said the upgrade would help to deliver clean power and improve energy security.

A spokesperson said: “These projects will also alleviate grid constraints and be the catalyst for economic growth across the north of Scotland, adding billions of value to the economy and supporting tens of thousands of jobs.

“The need for these projects has been independently assessed and recommended by the National Energy System Operator, have been approved by the independent energy regulator, Ofgem, and fully endorsed by the UK government as part of its Clean Power Action Plan.”