New Hearing on Kintore-Tealing pylon line will look at impacts on farming and health

Opponents of SSEN Transmission’s proposed Kintore to Tealing 400kV overhead line say a new Inquiry Hearing on farming impacts, health and line design is a major development in the dispute over the controversial scheme.

The Hearing, set for Wednesday, September 23, in Brechin will focus on the effect of the over head power line on agricultural operations.

Further concerns will be examined at a Hearing into the proposed pylon line from Kintore to Tealing.

placeholder image — Further concerns will be examined at a Hearing into the proposed pylon line from Kintore to Tealing.

It follows a decision by Reporters to seek additional environmental information from SSEN Transmission after concerns were raised by campaign group NOTKUP and land agents Galbraith during the public inquiry.

The agenda published by the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) shows that Reporters intend to examine whether human health risks have been properly assessed, whether electric shock risk has been shown to be “as low as reasonably practicable”, whether reliance on “safe work procedures” is justified, and what the line could mean in practice for machinery clearances, day-to-day farming and land productivity.

There has been considerable opposition to the proposed pylon line.

Andrew Connon, President of NFU Scotland, said: “This Hearing provides an important opportunity to consider the potential implications of the proposal for farming businesses and agricultural activity.

“The views and experiences of those working on the land must be properly understood and taken into account as part of the process.

“While we recognise the importance of strengthening Scotland’s energy infrastructure, this needs to be considered alongside the need to support productive agriculture and the long-term interests of rural businesses.

“Major infrastructure projects can have significant implications for those working the land, and it is important that these are fully understood and appropriately considered as part of the planning process.”

John Campbell, Project Manager for NOTKUP said SSEN had argued the issues raised were not within the Reporters’ remit, but the fact the Reporters had now called a Hearing and set out their agenda clearly indicated they think differently.

Ian Thornton-Kemsley, consultant at Galbraith, said: “This is a very significant step.

“Farmers and landowners have been saying for some time that the practical realities of working land under and around a 400kV overhead line need much closer examination.

“The written submissions on agricultural matters from NOTKUP and Galbraith alone ran to close to 200 pages. Given that volume of evidence and the complexity of the issues involved, we believe a second day may well be needed.”

The Hearing agenda shows that the Reporters will look at the distinction between transportation and operational mode for farm machinery, whether passing clearance or normal clearances should apply, and the consequences for agricultural activity if working practices have to change to accommodate the line.

They will also consider whether effects on agricultural operations and productivity could fall into the gap between SSEN’s descriptions of “significant” and “not significant” effects, and whether further mitigation may be needed.

Mr Campbell added: “We are very pleased to finally have the agenda. It means we can now put the right team together for what is clearly a very important Hearing.

“The Reporters have set out a detailed programme covering health, safety, machinery clearances and impacts on farming operations. That underlines the seriousness of the issues that have been raised.”

The Kintore-Tealing overhead line application, made under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989, is one of the most hotly-contested energy infrastructure cases in Scotland.