NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 16 December 2008 MSPS HIGHLIGHT BEAULY TO DENNY POWER LINE HEALTH CONCERNS Mid-Scotland and Fife Conservative MSPs Murdo Fraser and Liz Smith have backed a petition in the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee Parliament today (16 December) which highlights the potential health hazards of the proposed Beauly to Denny 400kV electricity transmission line being routed near households and communities. The petition has been lodged by Caroline Paterson, on behalf of ‘Stirling Before Pylons’, and urges the Scottish Government to acknowledge the potential health hazards associated with long-term exposure to electromagnetic fields from high voltage transmission lines. The petition also calls on the Scottish Government to introduce as a matter of urgency effective planning regulations to protect public health. At the end of the hearing, the Public Petitions Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government to ascertain the Government’s actions in relation to the issues raised in the petition. In the Public Petitions Committee, Liz Smith said: “I believe many important questions remain over the potential health hazards of 400kV electricity transmission pylons and it is quite natural and proper that local people want cast iron assurances that the potential health risks have been fully investigated in as open and transparent a manner as possible. “The concern that such a high voltage electricity transmission line which would be routed so close to many individual households, could potentially have very serious risk implications for both Alzheimer's and Leukaemia conditions is obviously very serious. “For local residents, families, and communities living in the catchments area of the proposed 400kV electricity transmission line I think there needs to be great care taken to ensure that the potential health risks are investigated on the basis of current evidence rather than on evidence which, in some cases, is 3 or 4 years old. And, given that some of the most newly available evidence has been undertaken amongst a fairly large population sample, I think it is essential that this is examined carefully before any decisions are made.” During the hearing at the Public Petitions Committee, Murdo said: “This petition is timely as the Beauly to Denny Public Inquiry report will go to Scottish Ministers early next year when a decision will be made on the power line. This issue of potential health hazards from power lines is important to people and communities in Stirling and throughout Perthshire as the proposed line goes through densely populated areas in the Mid-Scotland and Fife Region. “Every month more and more evidence is produced on the health risk attached to long-term exposure to electromagnetic fields from high voltage transmission lines. I would urge Scottish Ministers to adopt a precautionary principle towards the risks when dealing on these matters.” ENDS   back to top of page