Pressure Mounts for Scottish Government on Beauly-Denny power line

SNP administrations are feeling the heat as pressure mounts for them to decide whether or not to move forward with the controversial Beauly-Denny power cable. The cable became controversial when reports leaked that it was being backed by ministers in the UK.

The project will consist of 600 pylons, each one being 200 ft high, connecting power sites nearby Inverness and Falkirk. The plans for the project were put forward in 2005.

Supporters for the scheme include the Labour and Green parties which deem the project as a step towards meeting renewable energy goals. 

However, some have raised concerns over the impact of using landscape and a lack of provision of alternative options to the Beauly-Denny power line project.

Ministers have retained a public inquiry report since late February, and the Labour party leader, Iain Gray, said that the party would like to see the project move ahead as quickly as possible. He added that they were dissappointed that the project had been so far, delayed so much.

The party believes that Scotland needs a government that can take more decisive action to meet renewable energy goals in the future. The Labour party has supported the upgrade from the beginning.

Dennis Canavan, however, a former MSP and currently the president at Ramblers Association Scotland, went so far as to call the proposed pipeline scheme an act of vandalism, saying that it will destroy the scenic landscape of his home country, Scotland.

Many people across the local regions in Scotland have expressed concern over the construction of a new power line, and they have been watching closely to see whether or not the government will go ahead with the proposed project