12 June 2007

Highlands and Islands Regional Labour MSP Peter Peacock has welcomed the "first small sign" that Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) are considering some movement on their position over the under grounding of stretches of electricity cables on the west side of Wester Balblair Power Station, by Beauly and at an area of land, near to Osprey territory at Boat of Garten.

Mr Peacock said, "This is only a small sign, but it is the first sign that SSE are becoming more sensitive to the battle they have on their hands from objectors to their plans.

"While of itself it does not represent much of a concession, it is welcome and is something to build on.

"It is also testament to the weight of argument coming from concerned objectors.

"If it is now becoming possible to concede that even some of the current line can be under grounded in one place to meet environmental concerns, why can't bits of the new line be under grounded in other sensitive places to meet scenic quality and other environmental concerns.

"I expect objectors will be pretty dismissive of what is a very small movement of apparent concession to their views from SSE, but it should give them heart that it could be the start of a process of bigger concessions to come.

"The challenge now is to get a foot in the door that may only have slightly opened and push harder."

He added, "The area where we all need to make a lot more progress is in bottoming out the benefits and prospects for an undersea cable down the west coast and also the east coast as an alternative to current proposals."