Power pylons’ 60 year lifespan approaches

A major electricity supply revamp connecting Inveraray and Crossaig has reached the planning stage. Following public consultations in villages across Kintyre last year including Tarbert, Skipness and Carradale, as well as Inveraray and Ardrishaig, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has applied to the Scottish government for ‘Section 37’ approval to replace the overhead power lines. The major infrastructure project will see the existing 132kV transmission line, between Inveraray and Crossaig decommissioned and replaced by a 275kV overhead line, initially operated at 132kV. SSEN project manager, Ian Clark, said: ‘Our proposals consider a wide range of factors, including feedback from consultations, feedback from directly affected landowners and also the environmental and engineering assessments. ‘We are confident that our proposals have reached an optimum balance between these aspects.’