Closing submission on controversial Dumfries and Galloway pylon project may contain offensive material – Daily Record

A closing submission on a controversial pylon project has been blocked from publication by the Scottish Government because it may contain offensive material.

SP Energy Networks lodged its summary justifying construction of the Glenlee-Tongland overhead line section of the Kendoon-Tongland Reinforcement (KTR) with the planning and environmental appeals division (DPEA) on June 19.

A link to the lengthy document appeared on the DPEA website on July 4.

But members of the public hoping to read the full submission are still unable to do so. Instead, a statement on the site reads: “DPEA will not publish comments which in their view may be liable to cause offence.

“The applicant’s closing submissions will still be taken into account by the reporters in their consideration of the proposal and sent to energy consents unit with their completed report.”

The campaign group Galloway Without Pylons (GWP) lodged its final submission on May 10 with the DPEA making it publicly available the following day.

GWP co-ordinator Paul Swift told the News: “SPEN’s final submission has not been made public yet for some reason. It was lodged three weeks ago.

“We would like to see the final submission from SP Energy Networks published on the DPEA website as soon as possible as there are many people who want to see it.

“There were 950 objections so a lot of people want to know what’s going on. It’s a public document and is meant to be seen by the public.”

The Scottish Government indicated that the DPEA considered comments contained in SPEN’s closing submissions may be liable to cause offence, and in line with policy they were not published.

A spokesperson said: “There is no statutory requirement to publish such documents relating to the KTR public inquiry.

“However, DPEA seeks wherever possible to ensure a transparent and open process.

“DPEA policy is to publish all documentation, subject to the exceptions listed in our published guidance.”

A spokesperson for SPEN said: “Our proposals for Kendoon to Tongland investment aim to ensure there is a transmission system that’s suitable for the 21st Century and has the capacity and capability to support the increase in electricity demand as we transition to greener transport like electric vehicles and more electric heating, all of which supports the country’s ambitious targets to achieve Net Zero emissions.