NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 30 September 2009 BEAULY TO DENNY DECISION LOOMS As the decision on the Beauly to Denny power line approaches, Mid-Scotland and Fife MSPs Murdo Fraser and Liz Smith have called on the SNP Government to consider all new relevant information since the public inquiry report was submitted to Scottish Ministers on 18 February 2009. The call comes on the same day as a debate took place in the Scottish Parliament’s Chamber on the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee’s ‘Energy Report’. The Energy Report debate is examining Scotland’s future energy needs and how energy is generated and supplied in the country. The Beauly Denny Public Inquiry was the largest in Scotland since devolution and heard evidence from almost 200 witnesses over 105 days of inquiry evidence. Commenting, Murdo Fraser said: “The decision on whether or not the Beauly to Denny power line will be given the go ahead shall be announced within the next couple of months. As the Beauly Denny Public Inquiry Report was submitted to Scottish Ministers in February 2009 – over half a year ago – I believe the SNP Government must consider all the latest evidence surrounding the Beauly to Denny power line that has arisen since the inquiry finished. “If the Beauly to Denny power line is constructed, it is clear that there is a danger of long-term health hazards to houses that will be in close proximity to the line. This means that people living in houses along the proposed route will be directly affected by the power line. That is why I believe it is important that the Scottish Government allow the public to know the latest advice it has taken on potential health hazards of the power line as communities in Perthshire and Stirlingshire will be affected. “The public must be confident that the decision is the right one and the one which will have the least environmental damage and be safe in the knowledge that the power line is not a health hazard.” Elizabeth Smith, Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife added: “I believe many important questions still 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.” ENDS   back to top of page