Ten years on, and the wrangling continues

2001: A replacement power line is first proposed, to stretch from the Highlands to the Central Belt. This would be a 400kV line made up of about 600 pylons, replacing the existing 132kV line to cater for the increased quantities of renewable energy being generated in Scotland. The Scottish Government argues that it is a crucial part of delivering its targets for green energy.

2005: The plans for the power line from Beauly, west of Inverness, to Denny, near Falkirk, are lodged by Scottish and Southern Energy and ScottishPower. The proposals attract more than 18,000 objections.

2007: Between February and December, the proposals for the giant power line upgrade are subjected to the largest public inquiry held in Scotland since devolution, involving more than 200 witnesses. It took the reporters more than a year to draw up their reports.

February 2009: The reports from the public inquiry are handed to Scottish Government ministers. However, it takes nearly a year for energy minister Jim Mather, left, to make a decision.

January 2010: Jim Mather approves the proposals for the overhead power line but also asks for action to be taken to mitigate the impacts on the landscape.

February 2011: ScottishPower submits its first mitigation proposals to the Scottish Government, but following vociferous and widespread campaigns for it to be put underground, particularly near locations such as the Wallace Monument, above, the company is told to go back to the drawing board.

29 August, 2011: A second mitigation scheme is lodged with the Scottish Government, but campaigners argue it is little changed from February’s proposals.