Highland chatelaine fighting to block ‘monstrous’ 190ft pylons is hit by legal setback
A TyCOON’S legal challenge to stop an energy giant building ‘monster’ pylons near one of Scotland’s ‘most historic and iconic landmarks’ was deemed ‘incompetent’ by a sheriff yesterday.
Self-styled lady of the manor Samantha Kane was seeking a court order to block Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks’ (SSEN) plans to build the imposing metal structures near Carbisdale Castle in Sutherland.
But Lady Carbisdale’s legal bid hit a stumbling block yesterday when a sheriff refused to call her case, saying her writ was ‘incompetent’.
Ms Kane, who is also a barrister, was told that as the document had
‘These will kill any tourism’
not been signed by a lawyer and there had been no representations to the court, the case ‘will not be warranted until these matters have been addressed’.
When she tried to speak, Sheriff Robert McDonald told her: ‘you have no locus here. We’re done.’
Despite the setback, last night she said: ‘I can’t give up. People won’t come to a castle that is overshadowed by these ugly monstrosities.
‘These pylons will kill any tourism in the Highlands, particularly around Carbisdale Castle. They have to move the pylons from the castle or I will have to move the castle – it can’t be any other way.’
The proposed 100-mile route for the Beauly to Spittal power line runs past the 117-year-old property on Sutherland’s east coast. Ms
Kane claims the ‘20-storey high’ pylons will ‘touch’ the castle grounds and ‘destroy a magnificent landmark’.
The millionaire insists the planned route was ‘negligently designed’ and had lodged her application for an interdict at Tain Sheriff Court to stop the proposals going ahead.
Court papers said SSEN’s development would cause the castle operators ‘serious nuisance and harm’. Compensation was also being sought for ‘loss of business, delay and distress’.
Previously Ms Kane described it as a case of ‘Lady versus the Giant’ but last night she said: ‘I think we have a good argument. These things ought to be heard.’ Ms Kane bought Carbisdale Castle for more than £1million in 2022.
Following a £10million refurbishment, she will open the building and its grounds this summer as a wedding venue and visitor attraction.
She is also in the process of creating her own ‘state-of-the-art Hanging Gardens of Babylon’ attraction.
When she purchased the mansion, Ms Kane – believed to be the only person in the UK to have changed gender three times – said she ‘always wanted to be lady of the castle, a princess in my own fairytale’.
SSEN said it would submit its planning application for the Spittal to Beauly project later this year.