Douglas Lumsden MSP has criticised plans by SSEN Transmission to construct new pylons across North East Scotland.
In a speech in Parliament Douglas said that “the SNP has pursued technologies that will seek the mass industrialisation of the Scottish countryside. In the North East and Highlands, our beautiful rural landscapes are now threatened with monstrous pylons due to he Government’s obsession with chasing offshore wind at any cost”.
Douglas has recently met with locals in the North East who are worried about the plans to build these pylons which he believes are not appropriate for this part of the country. Across rural Scotland communities are up in arms over these plans.
He similarly met with a community group in Kintore that are campaigning against pans to construct a hydrogen plant in the area. Attendees at the meeting shared were concerned about the added impact this hydrogen plant would have alongside the pylon proposals.
“Many parts of the north of Scotland are, rightly, angry at the scale of the infrastructure planned on their doorstep. They feel neglected and ignored, and that they are paying a disproportionate price for our journey towards net zero.”
Prior to the debate in Parliament Douglas attended the Electricity System Operator’s launch of its “Beyond 2030” plan. Douglas stated that the plans, at present, will mean even more industrialisation of large chunks of the North East while the ink is not yet dry on the up to 2030 plan. He added that the proposed beyond 2030 plan will set alarm bells ringing for many communities in the North East.
“Those upgrades can take place only if we bring communities with us. We owe it to our constituents to ensure that their voices are heard and that their homes are not collateral damage in our journey to net zero.”
When Parliament returns after the spring recess campaigners plan to hold a protest outside Holyrood to voice their opposition to the pylon plans. The planned protest on the 2nd May comes ahead of a members debate later the same day.
Douglas is looking forward to taking part in that debate and stand up for rural Scotland.
