The Tide Is Turning!
On Friday we all celebrated a victory in our campaign against SSEN's proposed Kintore to Tealing 400kV overhead line.
The rejection of the Hurlie substation is not just a council planning decision ... it is a milestone for communities who have stood together to protect our landscape, health and heritage from industrialisation on an unacceptable scale.
It proves united local communities can stand up to powerful developers and that decision makers are listening when we present clear, evidence-based
Members of Deeside Against Pylons and Angus Pylon Action Group speaking as individuals, along with members of Crathes, Drumoak and Durris Community Council, Stonehaven & District Community Council and Mearns Community Council all spoke credibly, passionately and with great conviction.
We believe we were not only listened to but HEARD by the elected representatives.
This is how some councillors responded:
One councillor said that she represents people and "always promised the people I would listen to them."
Another said, "wrong development in the wrong place", had listened to the objections, was concerned about cumulative impact and the missing World War II plane.
Many expressed great concern over the lack of jobs post-construction and the conflicting numbers given by SSEN, cumulative impact and "planning in principle" which gave rise to worries over how conditions will be monitored and enforced.
After seven hours the motion was finally proposed to refuse planning permission focusing on landscape and visual not being suitably scaled and designed and concerns over flooding.
Seven councillors voted in favour of the motion, seven against. The Infrastructure Services Committee Chair cast the deciding vote in favour of the motion resulting in a nerve-wracking 8-7 decision against SSEN's application.
We'd like to thank the Councillors for convening a meeting to debate this. Many recognised our concerns.
The tide is turning against the reckless expansion of infrastructure through our countryside, the burden of which the north-east of Scotland is bearing.
However, this is far from the end but it is a turning point.
The three solidly aligned action groups of Deeside Against Pylons, Angus Pylon Action Group and Stop Tealing Industrialisation Group are continuing to build a strong, informed, transparent campaign and to fundraise towards the Public Inquiry triggered by Angus Councillors' objection.
These three groups have formed a team of immensely skilled, industrious and indefatigable people.
We have two dedicated sub-groups: a PLI group and a Fundraising group and have already identified expert witnesses to cover some of the subject areas, as before, in our definitive Single Objection Documents (SODs) to be defended and challenged.
We would welcome more volunteers for the Fundraising group so please do let us know if that is something that interests you. We have an exceptional Fundraising strategy. We need more help to implement it.
There are no further details on the Public Inquiry other than the Case Officer and the two Reporters who have been appointed. We await a date for the Pre-Inquiry Meeting and the Public Inquiry itself.
To everyone who wrote objections, attended meetings, shared information and refused to be ignored ... this recent success is yours.
Let's use the Hurlie decision as a springboard to stop SSEN in their tracks before they do any further damage to our communities.
Onwards and upwards ... Angus and Aberdeenshire Councillors' decisions are proof that we can win!
Keep following and keep hope!
