‘No’ to power line

Your editorial on the need for economically realistic green energy targets (29 October) needs to be read by every member of the UK Parliament. It is the UK Government that established the financial incentive scheme, the Renewables Obligation, that underpins these developments and is paid for by every citizen and every commercial company that uses electricity.

Furthermore, your report on the Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference (28 October) indicates how energy companies are desperate for this gravy train to continue as they call for “a stable incentive scheme to give reassurance over the long-term” as well as “political support and public buy-in”.

They can expect neither as public support for the energy companies melts away faster than spring snow on a stone dyke. Earlier this week, more than 200 people in Stirling told Scottish Power where they could stick the Beauly-Denny power line. Painting the 50-metre pylons in nice colours and trying to hide them with trees is an insult to Scotland.

All public financial support for massive land-based wind farms should be removed and redirected off shore to help wind, wave and tidal developments, along with sub-sea transmission lines from Scotland to England and Norway. The Beauly-Denny power line should be abandoned before any more damage is done.

When the SNP came to power in 1997 it demolished the Forth Bridge tolls and gantry. The UK Government now needs to do the same for Beauly-Denny – recognising that this is a financial and environmental disaster.

Scotland told Mrs Thatcher what to do with her poll tax. It now needs to do the same for Beauly-Denny.

Dave Morris

Ramblers Scotland

Auld Mart Business Park

Milnathort, Kinross