David Cameron: challenged to put people before pylons. Photo: Conservative Middle East Council CC-BY-SA-3.0

The leader of Scotland’s Ramblers today challenged the Conservative leader to put people before pylons and ditch the controversial scheme to build a massive power line through the Highlands.

Convenor Dennis Canavan called on the Tory leader to give a manifesto commitment to cancel the Beauly to Denny project, which has faced opposition from many outdoor groups, including the Ramblers and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.

The challenge was issued as Mr Cameron prepares to head to Scotland for his party conference.

Dennis Canavan

Mr Canavan, a former Labour MP and MSP, said: “Although the Scottish Government has given conditional planning approval for Beauly-Denny, energy policy is mainly a reserved matter and Beauly-Denny is a UK project which is now dependent on decisions taken at Westminster.

“The UK energy minister and MPs are in a powerful position to demand a reappraisal of Ofgem’s original approval of the project. They must ask themselves whether £350million should be allocated to a 220km line from Beauly to Denny or to alternative, less damaging electricity transmission routes.

“David Cameron needs to tell us if the Tories are ready to defend Scotland’s magnificent scenery from this disastrous project.

“Is he prepared to put people before pylons?

“For Scotland’s sake, Westminster politicians must throw out today’s discredited energy policy. We need long-distance energy transmission based on subsea cables, not massive pylons marching through the Highlands. Beauly-Denny is all about profit for energy companies, expensive electricity bills for everyone and irreparable damage to Scotland’s greatest generator of economic value: tourism.

“Does Cameron understand Scotland; does he understand value for money when making decisions on energy investment; does he have due regard for our people and our land?  Is he up for the challenge?”

The Scottish Government’s decision was supported by Scottish Labour, the Green Party and the ruling Scottish National Party, but Tories and Liberal Democrats were more equivocal, criticising aspects of the scheme.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority and the John Muir Trust also opposed the scheme.