Developers' duty

Approving the line upgrade – which has three-quarters the number of pylons of the existing line – is in the whole of Scotland's interest as we look to unlock our vast onshore and offshore renewables potential.

I balanced the economic need and benefits against the visual and landscape impacts at certain locations along the route. That's why I put in place wide-ranging and stringent conditions, which must be approved by me, prior to the line proceeding.

In Stirling, Plean and in Crieff, conditions must mitigate the visual impacts. In five key areas, conditions will remove or improve 86km of associated wires feeding into the line. A range of other conditions protect the environment, tourism and cultural heritage and ensure local authorities and communities are fully engaged. It is now up to the developers to fulfil those conditions.

JIM MATHER MSP

Scottish Parliament

In the 1950s the need to import crude oil at the most economic rate caused BP to create a deepwater terminal on Loch Long. For the product to reach the Grangemouth refinery required an underground pipeline across the country. This project was completed without any lasting scars to the countryside. Our oil and gas industry went on to achieve outstanding technological innovations and become a world leader in subsea engineering.

Today, in contrast, the electricity industry faces the apparent need to enhance transmission capacity from the North to the central belt. The current pylon line was erected in the 1930s. Since then we have seen more than 70 years of technological advance. Yet we find the preferred option is simply to double the dimensions of the original pylons and say "same again", a course which will magnify the disfigurement of our incomparable countryside.

It is wrong that Jim Mather should nod through such an obtuse scheme. It is also sad to see our electricity industry humbled.

J D WATSON

Altina

Crieff, Perthshire