A public consultation on proposals to upgrade the electricity network in Dumfries and Galloway has ended.

Plans by SP Energy Networks include a possible new overhead electricity line between Auchencrosh, on the South Ayrshire coast, and Harker, near Carlisle in Cumbria.

The first round of consultation asked for peoples views on the broad corridor of land the company suggests will be best for the new electricity line.

Part of the consultation was the potential siting areas for four new substations at Auchencrosh, Newton Stewart, Glenlee and Dumfries.

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SP Energy Networks' project manager for the scheme, Colin Brown, said that although the project was necessary to upgrade the ageing and undersized electricity network, the views of local people were critical.

He said: "Even though it's at a very early stage, this is a big project and we need to know what people think. The response has been very encouraging.

"To make sure we develop the scheme with local concerns and ideas firmly in mind, every word of the feedback we have received now needs to be scrutinised and we will respond as part of the consultation feedback report later this year."

The consultation, which started on 8 June, was extended by five weeks at the request of local people to allow more time for them to comment.

The responses received will help SP Energy Networks decide which areas should go forward to the next stage of the routeing process.

Depending on the outcome, as well as further technical and environmental studies, the company hopes to carry out a second round of consultation into a number of preferred line routes and substation sites next year.

(LM)