Local MSPs will attend the next meeting of Stirling Council's Beauly to Denny Powerline Steering Group, to hear the concerns of the Group about Scottish Power Transmissions Ltd's (SPT) Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme proposals for the Stirling area.

They will ask for their support in conveying these concerns to the Scottish Government.

The Steering Group meeting will take place on Monday January 17 and will be attended by Bruce Crawford MSP, Keith Brown MSP, Murdo Fraser MSP and Richard Simpson MSP.

The proposals, which are part of the new Beauly – Denny 440kv transmission line, approved by the Scottish Government last year were condemned by the Council as being ‘disappointing’ and ‘a wholly inadequate response to the intention of the Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme, and doing little to address the mitigation of the power line and the concerns of the Council and the local communities of Stirling’ .

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The Steering Group met on Monday with representatives from the Scottish Government to ascertain timescales as to when Scottish Ministers would be in a position to consult with the Council on SPT’s final proposals. The Government’s Head of Energy Consents and Deployment, Simon Coote explained that until SPT had submitted their proposals to Scottish Ministers dates couldn’t be provided.

The Steering Group has written again to the Minister Jim Mather MSP outlining their concerns about the sufficiency of Scottish Power Transmission’s proposals and is waiting on his response.

Stirling Council Leader Graham Houston has also written to the Minister expressing his concerns at SPT’s lack of engagement in respect of their Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme.

Councillor Callum Campbell, Chair of the Steering Group in reiterating the need for effective consultation said: "It is incumbent upon SPT to further engage with Stirling Council on their visual mitigation proposals and to ensure that the mitigation measures adequately address the requirements and expectations of the condition of the consent in relation to the Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme and satisfies public concerns.

"The Steering Group will continue to lobby both SPT and Scottish Government in this regard and press for an appropriate and satisfactory solution for the people of the Stirling area.”

The next stage of the process is for SPT to review their mitigation proposals in view of the consultation responses, and for SPT to submit their finalised Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme to Scottish Ministers for consideration. Thereafter Scottish Ministers will formally consult with Stirling Council on the proposals.

(GK)