Chairman’s Letters
DEESIDE AGAINST PYLONS 21.09.2024
Chairman’s Letter No. 8
SSEN consultation process
SSEN has now announced the next round of consultations for the alignment of the pylons:
1st. October Kintore Public Hall 1:30 to 6:30 pm
2nd. October Echt Village Hall 2 to 7 pm
3rd. October Drumoak Bowling Club 2 to 7 pm
10th. October Durris Kirkton Hall 2 to 7 pm
They will be showing maps with the potential alignment for the overhead line, with alternative alignment options in some locations.
We would encourage everyone to attend and challenge this development. It is clear SSEN has totally ignored the feedback given so far and are just ploughing ahead with their plan with no options properly assessed.
The following are the kind of questions I would encourage you to ask:
- Why is SSE investing in wind farms all over Scotland when the demand is in England resulting in the proposed massive pylons to export this power?
- What does SSEN believe is the impact on property values near to pylons? Previously they have said “No impact” while countless research articles have proved there is a negative impact.
- Why have no other options been properly assessed and properly costed?
- Why does SSEN not follow proper consulting procedures (Ref Gunning Principles) and consult at an early stage in development rather than present a fait accompli with 55 to 70 metre pylons and then just fiddle with the route?
- If it is economic to export power via offshore lines (EGL 1, 2, 3 and 4) down the North Sea why is it not feasible for the TKUP power to be exported by a similar route?
- What assessment does SSEN plan to address the obvious mental health issues of their plan?
- How much noise will these overhead lines create?
After the meeting please let SSEN know your concerns about this development. We will hand out flyers at the meetings showing how your objections can be made.
Hurlie Substation
A huge substation is planned at Hurlie outside Stonehaven. While not in the DAPAG area, it does affect us. The substation and pylons are key parts of the same SSEN project.
The substation Planning Application will be issued shortly.
Bizarrely the substation consent is by the Shire Council, under the Town and Country Planning Act, while the overhead line and pylons are consented by the Scottish Government under the Electricity Act. We are concerned because if the substation is approved it means the pylons will in all probability also be approved. This is why DAPAG will be encouraging everyone to object to the Hurlie substation. More details will follow once the Planning Application has been submitted.
Petition
The Save our Mearns team was successful in raising a petition to Holyrood requiring better consultation for energy infrastructure projects like TKUP. The first hearing of the crucial petition came before the petitions committee on September 11th. Tess White MSP presented Tracey Smith of Save Our Mearns’ petition about the inadequacies in SSEN consultation process, petitioning the Scottish government to improve public consultation processes for energy infrastructure projects.
Photography Competition
The Photo competition has received excellent entries which will be judged at the end of the month. The winners will be notified.
Raffle
The DAPAG raffle had a great response and the winners were be picked on Saturday night 21st. September. Again the winners will be notified. I am please to say the raffle raised just over £2,500.
Your continued support
Thank you to all who entered the Photo Competition or who bought raffle tickets. We’ve said before how much we appreciate all the support you have given so far. As we know, in this process, numbers matter! Please continue to join us at meetings, stay connected and help tell others. With your help, our collective voice will be heard.
If you have any questions please let us know via our website, FaceBook or WhatsApp
With thanks
John Rahtz
Chairman, Deeside Against Pylons
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1468296217309700
Pylon Chat on FaceBook
DEESIDE AGAINST PYLONS 18.08.2024
Chairman’s Letter No. 7
SSEN consultation process
My last letter was in May when SSEN announced a delay to the second phase of consultation for the overhead line alignment (the actual position of the pylons within the corridor) and then it all went quiet. We now know the Echt, Durris and Drumlithie village halls have been booked by SSEN in early October so we are assuming the Alignment Consultation will recommence.
Nothing has been published yet about any adjustments to the alignment, although there has been a lot of activity to the west of Drumoak in the Park area. SSEN has issued letters to residents within 1 km of the revised alignment and say they will publish the alignment in the week commencing 19th. August
Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL 2)
There was a big publicity splash about the EGL 2 going ahead under an SSEN / National Grid Electricity Transmission agreement. This will be a 2 GW subsea link running down the North Sea from Peterhead to Drax in North Yorkshire using high voltage DC cables.
Sadly this is not instead of the proposed new 400 kV overhead line from Kintore to Tealing (TKUP). It is in fact the second of six EGL offshore “super highways” planned to export power from Scotland to England. The proposed new TKUP onshore overhead line is in addition to these subsea routes.
In July 2022 the National Grid ESO performed the overall Holistic Network Plan, which included the initial design for TKUP showing upgrades to the existing pylons. In it they say ”Our assessment indicates there is clear value in transferring power south through the offshore network from the eastern ScotWind zone, via the developments off the east coast of England.” (Scotwind being the new offshore wind farms).
They also say “The choice between AC and DC cabling becomes less clear cut in the upper length range for AC cables (150-200 km) and will depend on other project specific factors, including environmental, technical and community constraints.”
As the power from the new onshore and offshore wind farms in the north of Scotland is for export to England and beyond, this is clearly far further than 200 km making an offshore HVDC cable route a logical choice. By looking at the short section from Kintore to Tealing in blinkered isolation SSEN have chosen HVAC on pylons to the detriment of all the communities en route. We believe the power being transmitted in the TKUP should be transmitted offshore rather than wrecking the countryside and causing social and economic upheaval.
Every institution involved, SSEN, the UK Government, the Scottish Government, Ofgem and the National Grid ESO denies accountability for this proposed development. The complete lack of oversight is shameful and damaging for the country.
Raising awareness and building momentum
To continue to ensure our opposition is seen and heard to SSEN’s proposed industrial-scale, export power line through our communities, Deeside Against Pylons had stands at the Echt Show and the Banchory Show. They attracted a lot of attention. In this picture from the Echt Show you will see a model of the tallest of the proposed pylons above cows and a tractor to the same scale.
Our MP, Andrew Bowie, joined us at Banchory, seen here attacking our Pylon / Coconut Shy.
In his new role as Shadow Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero he is supporting our action group and asking critical questions of the new UK Government.
Petition
The Save our Mearns team was successful in raising a petition to Holyrood requiring better consultation for energy infrastructure projects like TKUP. It resulted in a Members Debate which many of attended and will now be followed by a submittal to the Scottish Government’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee. This is a significant step. Please add weight by signing the petition:
https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2095
Photography Competition
To celebrate the beauty of Deeside and the North East of Scotland we have launched a FREE to enter photo competition. The competition is open to anyone who loves our magnificent countryside, including residents current and past, friends and family, tourists etc. We are particularly looking for photographs taken within the Kintore to Tealing area (TKUP) These inland areas of Aberdeenshire and down through Angus will be hugely affected by SSEN’s plans to erect monstrously high pylons along the route.We are looking for your best photos of our lovely countryside along the proposed pylon route. The competition is open until 31st. August and has super cash prizes. There are two categories: Children of Primary School Age, and Adults.
See further details are on our website.
Your continued support
We’ve said before how much we appreciate all the support you have given so far. As we know, in this process, numbers matter! Please continue to join us at meetings, stay connected and help tell others. With your help, our collective voice will be heard.
If you have any questions please let us know via our website, FaceBook or WhatsApp
With thanks
John Rahtz
Chairman, Deeside Against Pylons
DEESIDE AGAINST PYLONS 29.05.2024
Chairman’s Letter No. 6
A huge thank you to everyone who responded to the first phase of the SSEN consultation on the proposed pylon line corridor through Dunecht, Echt, Drumoak and Durris. We understand that around 2000 objections were received by the 30 April deadline. This is a significant number and ensures our opposition to this plan is heard by decision-makers, loud and clear.
Latest on the consultation process
Immediately following the first round of consultation, on 1 May SSEN announced a delay to the second phase of consultation for the overhead line alignment (the actual position of the pylons). This will now take place later in the year, but no date has been confirmed yet. We are following this closely and will keep you updated.
It may be a coincidence but SSEN has also just published a document on the optimum design for running 400kV lines over oil and gas pipelines to avoid corrosion; there are several major pipelines in this area.
Consultations for the proposed substations will continue as planned. The next consultation event for the proposed Hurlie substation (Fetteresso Forest, near Stonehaven) takes place at Drumlithie Village Hall on 11 June.
Raising awareness and building momentum
To continue to ensure our opposition is seen and heard to SSEN’s proposed industrial-scale, export power line through our communities, Deeside Against Pylons joined together with other groups in a protest at the Scottish Parliament on 2 May before joining the public gallery to listen to a debate on the involvement of the public in the decision making, led by MSP Tess White. We hope this will lead to a full-scale Government debate to be called on this subject.
Holyrood Protest 2 May
This followed the success of our first community event, the Tractor Run, in April. Both events gained attention in various media and I’ve included some examples below.
Issues: Noise
We are currently researching deeper into the noise impact from the “Corona Effect” on overhead lines and the buzzing from substations. This has been a serious problem elsewhere.
Upcoming events
DAP Information Meeting and Q&A, Durris Kirkton Hall, Tues 4 June 7:30pm
Deeside Against Pylons and Crathes and Drumoak Community Council will share the latest updates on the consultation and related issues including health concerns, noise levels and more. This continues a series of information events held so far in Drumoak and Echt and is open to anyone; all are welcome.
Echt Show , Sat 13 July
The Echt Show was established in 1853 and is one of the oldest and most popular farming shows in the North-East. The site of the show, Echt Park and surrounding fields in the centre of the village, also now falls under the proposed route for the pylons and overhead lines. Deeside Against Pylons will have a stall at the show to share the latest updates and share our community spirit against these plans.
Please let me re-emphasise, we support net zero and the ambition to reduce our carbon footprint. What we do not support is industrialisation of our countryside and the disproportionate price our local communities will have to pay in terms of health and wellbeing for an industrial-scale pylon line through Scotland designed only to export power. We believe that SSEN should consider alternative methods to transmit this power, underground or subsea, as they are doing in other parts of Scotland and the UK.
We appreciate all the support you have given so far in this process. As we know, numbers matter! Please continue to join us at meetings, stay connected and help tell others. With your help, our collective voice will be heard.
John Rahtz
Chairman, Deeside Against Pylons
DAP in the Media:
Aberdeenshire protester warns ‘we are frightened’ at ‘super-pylons’ rally (pressandjournal.co.uk)
Group runs tractor protest against SSEN ‘super-pylons’ (pressandjournal.co.uk)
Aberdeenshire farmers hold ‘tractor run’ in pylon protest – BBC News
Aberdeenshire farmers show roaring opposition to monster pylons (scotsman.com)
SSEN’s ‘monster pylon’ plan across Aberdeenshire prompts farmers’ tractor protest | STV News
DEESIDE AGAINST PYLONS 29.04.2024
Chairman’s Letter No. 5
A great turn out for the Tractor Run on Sunday. Thank you to all who participated and all who stood waving and cheering as the tractors drove past. It received very supportive coverage on TV, radio and in the newspapers. At this stage it is all about spreading the word as far and as loud as possible. There are still many people who are either not aware or who assume it is a done deal; so please talk to everyone you can to raise awareness and help stop this destruction of our landscape.
Deeside Against Pylons is working with the other action groups along the length of the line to create one fully comprehensive objection document covering all possible issues.
We are particularly concerned about SSEN’s refusal to address the physical health and mental health issues arising from such high levels of power transmission. They say they are following current government guidelines and denying any level of knowledge within their own organisation about the risks associated with EMF. We are making a strong case to the UK and Scottish Government of the need to address the raised level of risk of leukaemia and cancer. It will come as no surprise that a meta analysis of all EMF related health studies showed the ones funded by Governments and Power Transmission organisations show no increased risk whereas other independently funded studies show an increased risk of 45%.
I know many find the proposed transmission plan, to say nothing of the proliferation of wind farms, substations and battery storage plans, to be worrying. Be of strong heart! The level of support for our cause is rising all the time, echoed across the country by many others similarly affected.
SSEN consultation deadline – 30 April
If you have not written your objection letter to the proposed pylon corridor you have until the end of April. Anyone of any age with a separate email address can send in their protest. The addresses of all to whom it should be sent and cc’d are on the DAPAG website.
Upcoming events
Thursday 2 May: We are arranging a protest at Holyrood on 2 May where Tess White, MSP, is leading a debate on the issue. Please attend if you can. Green issues certainly seem to be at the forefront in the Scottish Government at present.
TBA: ‘Walk the Line’ protest.
We have changed our plans for a long walk to avoid the safety concern of large numbers on our narrow lanes. A short walk is planned going from Durris, via Park Bridge and over the “Switchback road” then have a BBQ in the Glebe field.
Saturday 13 July Echt Show
DAPAG will have a stall at the Echt Show which will be right under the proposed overhead line route. Come along to get the latest news on SSEN’s plans.
Can I stress to all that this is not a campaign of wingeing NIMBYs; we believe that this amount of power generated in the north of Scotland, destined for England and abroad, should be transmitted by High Voltage Direct Current subsea lines. New subsea lines are already being planned down the UK east coast – why not for this power as well.
John Rahtz, Glenecht, Echt
DEESIDE AGAINST PYLONS 16.04.2024
Chairman’s Letter No. 4
This is me at 6 feet tall dwarfed by one of the pylons at Hirn that has been upgraded. It is exactly 30 metres high. The proposed Kintore to Tealing 400kV overhead line pylons running through our communities in Dunecht, Echt, Drumoak and Crathes would be more than double this height.
As you can see in this graph below, by 2040 Scotland will have the capacity to export some 65GW of electricity. If we do not stop this new line it will be the first of many running through Aberdeenshire. We believe the power should run through subsea lines, not overland.
SSEN consultation deadline – 30 April
The current SSEN public consultation will close on 30 April. Numbers matter – we need as many objection emails as possible to ensure our voice is heard loud and clear. To maximise the impact, every person in your household (with their own unique email address, no age limit), should send an objection to SSEN with copies to your MP, MSP and community councillors. Full details on “How to Object” can be found on our website, including guidance on key contacts to copy your email to and technical references to the projects.
Upcoming events
Saturday 21 April: DAP Tractor Run: Join us at our tractor run, partnered with the Deeside Steam and Vintage Club, to show our opposition to the SSEN pylon proposal. The tractors will leave Crathes Village Hall at 09:30, going from Crathes through Drumoak, Echt, Dunecht and on to Leylodge and back. The map of the route including safe Support Spots can be found on Facebook and our website.
Thursday 2 May: We are arranging a protest at Holyrood on 2nd. May where Tess White, MSP, is leading a debate on the issue. All welcome, please get in touch if you would like more details. It is important the Scottish Parliament know the strength of feeling against this industrial blighting of our landscape.
Sunday 2 June: ‘Walk the Line’ protest, with the aim to get as many from our communities, families and friends to make this as large and as visible as possible. Still in the early stages of planning, more details to follow.
Thank you for your ongoing support. We had a full house at the Deeside Against Pylons meeting at Echt Village Hall on 10th April. We were pleased that Fiona Bick, Chairman of Echt and Skene Community Council and Alexander Burnett our MSP were able to attend and add their insights.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions: info@deesideap.co.uk
John Rahtz, Glenecht, Echt
DEESIDE AGAINST PYLONS 28.03.2024
Chairman’s Letter No. 3
Thank you to all who attended the SSEN Consultations in Echt on 13th. and Drumoak on 20th. March and our Q&A session last night at the Drumoak Church Hall. Some of the DAPAG team participated in a Focus Group with a survey company regarding SSEN’s consultations. In the last 12 months the rating for their consultations fell from 44% to 7%. I have no doubt it will fall further after our feedback.
DAPAG will be holding more meetings to explain what is planned and the most effective means to object. The next one will be in Echt Village Hall at 7:30pm on 10th. April.
Did you see the STV Documentary ‘Power Struggle’? You can see it on catch up TV at
https://player.stv.tv/summary/scotland-tonight-power-struggle
We have written to Gillian Martin MSP, who appeared on the programme in her role as Minister for Energy discussing consultation and the burying of cables.
National Grid Electricity System Operator, NGESO, who run the electricity system in UK and plan its future, has just released its plans for “Beyond 2030”. This includes a massive Electrical Spine running onshore down the east coast of Scotland. The default solution is again for very high voltage overhead lines on huge pylons. This makes our efforts to resist the current proposed new 400kV line even more important before this part of the country is overrun with steel towers. We must make SSEN create better solutions that do not impact so severely on our lives and countryside. This new plan is again solely for exporting power to south of the border with no discernible benefit to communities here and with a huge downside.
DAPAG represents the Communities of Dunecht, Echt, Drumoak and Durris. We now have a formal link with the Save our Means and Angus Pylon Action Group and are hooking up with the new action group representing Tealing. A “Combined Group Team” has been established so we all speak with one voice.
Because the overhead line (OHL) and the associated substations at Fetteresso / Hurlie and Tealing are an integral part of the whole system we are looking closely at the whole planning application process and where and when we should be objecting. Despite being one system the various parts are being split out by SSEN, against the advice of Scotland’s Chief Planner, with planning applications being submitted for each part; the OHL to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consent Unit and the substations separately to Aberdeenshire and Angus County Councils.
In addition to the Planning Consultant we have recently engaged we are in the early stages of engaging a King’s Council to address the seemingly simple question: “What should the Combined Group do to stop SSEN proceeding with Kintore to Tealing Overhead line as currently proposed?”
We have looked at the major planned electricity transmission systems right across the world. It seems incredible that Scotland, with its bold plans for Net Zero and its huge renewable energy resources should choose traditional High Voltage AC power lines on 60 to 70 metre high pylons when almost everyone else is choosing more modern solutions.
Please engage your friends and neighbours in the fight. To those that say there is nothing they can do I say ‘If you do nothing, there is no chance of stopping the pylons and overhead lines being built’. The Deeside Against Pylons explains what you can do. It will take a lot of writing to all the parties but the result will be worth it.
Thank you for your support
John Rahtz, Glenecht, Echt
DEESIDE AGAINST PYLONS 14.03.2024
Chairman’s Letter No. 2
The Deeside Against Pylons Action Group (DAPAG) met this week to continue the fight against the Kintore to Tealing 400kv Overhead Line. We were pleased to have Alexander Burnett online via Zoom to hear our concerns and questions. His key message was the that quality and quantity of objections is key.
I would emphasise that the group represents everyone in the communities of Durris, Drumoak, Echt and Dunecht who object to the proposed 400kv pylons and overhead wires. We are linked in closely with the Community Councils and other action groups to bring a unified voice against this development. The goal is unchanged: NO PYLONS.
DAPAG is pleased to welcome onboard two professional communications specialists. The aim is to have a planned and powerful message to all decision makers and provide all members of the affected communities with the information they need to make their decision and hopefully object to this spoiling of our neighbourhoods.
The Deeside against Pylon website is now live and we will update it regularly:
The health subgroup has revealed that SSEN relies on advice from various UK health and government bodies who in turn rely on advice from the International Commission on Non Ionising Radiation (ICNIR) whose data and advice does not reflect recent science. We will pursue enquires on this complex field with vigour, particularly with respect to the impact on schools close to the pylons.
With the funds raised to date we have been able to engage the services of a specialist Planning Consultant who has been heavily involved with objections to wind farms and transmission lines in Scotland. He has already given his powerful views on questioning the basic needs for the whole development.
We are grateful to all those who have contributed to the Deeside Against Pylons fund. Heavy costs are anticipated when we obtain legal / KC advice on specific aspects of our objections such as environmental, planning and human rights. So please encourage all whom you know to contribute:
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/deeside-againstpylons
SSEN is currently consulting on the final corridor planning and in June will start consulting on the actual placement of the pylons within the corridor. Please write to SSEN, copying your County Councillor, with your objections during both of these consultation periods. The closing date for the current consultations is 30th April. Addresses and contacts are on the Deeside against Pylons Flyer many of you will have received and on the DAPAG website.
Details of the project and the dates of consultations can be found on the SSEN website:
https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/kintore-tealing-400kv-ohl-connection/
Thank you to all who attended the consultation meetings and made their views clear to the SSEN representatives.
We are planning a Q and A session on 28th March at the Drumoak Church Hall. Also in conjunction with the other Action Groups along the whole route a protest is planned at the Scottish Government on 28th April. Details of both these meetings will be published soon.
Thank you
John Rahtz, Glenecht, Echt
DEESIDE AGAINST PYLONS 27.02.2024
Chairman’s Letter No. 1
The Deeside Against Pylons Action Group (DAPAG) was established in January 2024 after SSEN changed their “preferred route” for their massive pylons to run right through the villages of Drumoak and Echt.
It is leading the fight for the communities affected and has one simple goal: NO PYLONS.
DAPAG is carefully structured with sound governance provided with the following roles: Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer and up to sixteen committee members. Subgroups cover the key areas of Legal / Political, Technical, Fundraising and Communications. Volunteers to support these subgroups are very welcome.
We are fortunate that the team includes a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience. Professional advice on specialist areas such as legal and planning will be brought in from experts in those fields when needed.
The Committee is researching a wide spectrum of issues, from planning processes to political aspects, from the health implications to house value impacts and are looking at the alternative technologies in use elsewhere.
The Action Group covers the communities of Dunecht, Echt, Drumoak and Durris, but is also linked into the action groups ‘Leylodge against Industrialisation’ to the north and ‘Save our Mearns’ to the south. It works closely with the Community Councils along the route from Kintore to Tealing. This avoids duplication of effort and expense. It is only by speaking with one voice that we can stop the pylon’s blight to our landscape and the effect on our lives.
DAPAG is spreading the word through social media, ‘Deeside against Pylons’ on FaceBook, its website and with fliers to be distributed throughout the area. We attend all the SSEN Consultation meetings and ask the crucial questions.
We are raising funds to cover professional advice and publicity. Please contribute via Just Giving if you can. Every pound helps.
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/deeside-againstpylons
You can help by sending attractive photographs of your local landscape to DAPAG, and by recording every species of fauna and rare flora you see on the North East Scotland Biological Records Centre site. All will be used as evidence in arguments against pylons.
The team is planning a number of ways of getting the message out from walking the route to more radio talks and television appearances.
I implore all who read this to become involved in the fight against pylons and to engage your family, friends and neighbours to do the same. Attend the SSEN Consultation meetings, write to your Aberdeenshire Councillor, MP and MSP, help raise funds and spread the word.
Ultimately success will come from the number of people who object to the scheme.
Thank you.
John Rahtz
Chairman