Spinning a line

It would take more than the space available here to counter all the misleading statements about the Beauly-Denny power line made by Jim Mather MSP (Letters, 11 January) but perhaps I could briefly tackle one.

Despite repeated glib statements that there will be fewer pylons in the upgraded line, there will be more in the Stirling section of the line – 78 compared with 74.

In the area that is most sensitive from a landscape point of view – the most visited part of the Ochil Hills, at the foot of Dumyat, and down their beautiful southern scarp (highly visible from the National Wallace Monument) – not only will there be just as many as now, but they will be routed along an even more prominent and visually intrusive alignment, and each will be some seven times the volume of existing ones.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Mather may have a right to make the decision, but exhibiting such misleading complacency shouldn't be part of the package.

DR NICKI BAKER

Vice-chair, Friends of the Ochils

Parkhead

Logie, Stirling

I remember, 40 years ago, driving north after two years in Canada, the impact of my first sight of the Ochil Hills.

I made the same journey last week. There is no longer a sense of the mysterious about the mountains – the overwhelming impact is now that of the Braes of Doune wind farm. But is it really so bad? Look to the right. Dominating the landscape is the Wallace Monument. What an eyesore that must have seemed in the 1860s.

And look back at the monstrosity that is Stirling Castle – monstrosity, that is, if you are concerned with the "natural landscape". Everywhere we look the impact of humans on the landscape is evident. Why should today's version be bad, when yesterday's is good?

In years to come we might be glad we invested in the opportunity to generate more of our power from natural resources. I don't suppose any of those who protest about the Beauly-Denny line are too willing to give up on their centrally heated homes just yet.

NIALL YOUNG

Seaview Terrace

Johnshaven, Montrose