𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞!

…… and it happened because people stood up, submitted evidence and refused to let serious failings be ignored.

The Reporters have now confirmed that, after considering the written submissions from Galbraith’s clients, NOTKUP, and others, they need further information on Agricultural Operations in order to comply with the EIA regulations.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭.

Let’s be clear … this decision was driven by the written submissions and by the fact that SSEN’s assessment was not good enough.

The concerns raised about agriculture, farm safety, land use and human health were substantial, detailed and impossible to dismiss. The Reporters have accepted that more work must now be done before these issues can be properly considered.

SSEN has now been told it must:

• assess every single span of the line

• identify clearance heights individually and cumulatively

• carry out a detailed risk assessment for agricultural workers

• consider the real-world use of modern farm machinery, rain guns, spraying systems, and any farming operations presenting foreseeable danger

• fully assess agricultural land use impacts, including loss of prime land, land sterilisation, and changes to farming practice

• identify consequential socio-economic effects

• assess any residual significant effects on human health, including electrocution risk

This is not a minor procedural point. This is a clear indication that critical issues were not sufficiently assessed by SSEN in the first place.

For months communities have been saying that the case being put forward did not properly reflect the realities on the ground - especially for farming, rural livelihoods, and public safety. Now, because of the strength of the written evidence submitted, those concerns have been formally recognised.

That matters.

𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴.

𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.

𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁.

There will now be changes to the Inquiry timetable, including no Agriculture or Policy Hearing in week two. Once SSEN produces its new material, affected parties, including Galbraith’s clients and NOTKUP, will have the chance to respond.

This is a significant achievement for everyone opposing SSEN’s TKUP and enormous credit must go to the SAG Group and those who helped bring these issues forward with such clarity and persistence.

We are not going to speculate on what SSEN will do next. But what has happened here is important. The process has exposed serious gaps and SSEN has been told to go back and do the work properly.

This fight is far from over, but this is proof that strong, evidence-based opposition can force accountability.