Scotland and its landscape deserve better

David Maddox and John Ross were right to highlight the shoddy treatment of objectors to the Beauly-Denny decision (your report, 7 January), but surely all Scottish voters, electricity consumers and the millions round the world who look to a Scottish Government to safeguard Scotland's natural heritage have been shortchanged by this decision.

A company with a monopoly over transmission in northern Scotland has been given the go-ahead for its scheme, and the minister has in addition given the firm control over what he repeatedly described as "mitigation" of controversial sections of the pylon route.

At a time when European good practice requires major schemes to be open to competitive tender, the Holyrood politicians have been persuaded there is no alternative to Beauly-Denny, with no rival schemes being required or costed. Detailed evidence from engineering experts and a proper consideration of the sub-sea option was not admitted to the inquiry.

The decision coincides with publication of details of the proposed European super sub-sea grid, which could transmit all electricity generated in the Northern Isles and the North-east directly to a European market. Instead, the Scottish Government is sponsoring a chain of mighty pylons marching through the Scottish heartland to transmit renewable energy to England while the Westminster government has made clear that it intends to rely on a major nuclear capacity and massive wind turbine arrays in the North Sea.

We may get the politicians we deserve but the Scottish landscape deserves better.

SUE HOPKINSON

Highlands Before Pylons

Grianan

Ullapool, Ross-shire

I have just heard Pete Wishart on Radio Scotland describe opponents of the Beauly-Denny power line as "nimbys". He then claimed most people in Scotland who didn't live in its path probably wondered what all the fuss was about.

He should get out of London a bit more. Let me assure him that I live many miles from the proposed line and I know what all the fuss is about. It is about an act of political vandalism which will leave a scar on some of Scotland's most beautiful places for years to come.

ANNE M KEENAN

Roshven

Lochailort, Inverness-shire

It is vital that we do not discourage people from visiting Scotland and enjoying the best of its scenery (Opinion, 8 January. Through what the public inquiry report described as "sensitive" routing, developed over three years, the Beauly-Denny overhead power line does not pass through any of Scotland's designated national scenic areas.

Most of the new overhead line will be within 1km of an existing line of pylons which will be dismantled.

In addition, the landscape in key areas such as the Cairngorms National Park will be improved through the removal of other power lines as part of the Beauly-Denny package announced by ministers.

DR KEITH MACLEAN

Head of policy and public affairs, Scottish and Southern Energy

Dunkeld Road, Perth