We were disturbed to read a post on our Facebook page this afternoon from Paul Swift of Galloway without Pylons. It further emphasises how important it is that the SAS Petition to the Scottish Parliament should succeed, particularly part three of the Petition which requests: appointing an independent advocate to ensure that local participants are not bullied and intimidated during public inquiries.
In this case the community had managed to fund raise for professional help but were still abused. It is not just abuse of the community but also their lawyer and expert witness.
Paul Swift of Galloway without Pylons
I have been asked by SAS to post a short report on Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) Kendoon to Tongland 132kV Reinforcement Project following the completion of the Public Inquiry.
Galloway Without Pylons (GWP) have been campaigning for the past 7 years to persuade SPEN to underground or re-route the section between Glenlee and Tongland that goes straight through the Galloway Forest Park which is the most popular “natural” tourist destination in Dumfries & Galloway.
GWP submitted their 20 page final submission on the 10th May which is published on the DPEA website (TRL-170-1). SPEN’s 315 page final submission was submitted on the 20th June, 4 weeks late. The caption posted at the bottom of this page then appeared on the DPEA website.
Their submission was written by SPEN’s KC, with contributions from Shepherd Wedderburn LLP on behalf of the Applicant.
GWP goes further than the Scottish Government and believes that SPEN’s submission has caused great offence. Their submission is arrogant, dismissive of the local community, contains false information and is an attempted character assassination of the two “experts” that were employed to represent GWP. The local community raised £24,000 to pay for our KC and technical expert so you can imagine how angry GWP members are when they read this unpleasant submission from SPEN.
Our technical expert was Dr Chris Ford, BA (Hons), MBA, MSc. in Renewable Energy, PHD in Civil & Environmental Engineering. He was absolutely superb at the Inquiry and it was obvious from the first time I met him that he is indeed and expert on the “spatial dimension of energy systems”. I am currently working on a report that will highlight those sections of SPEN’s submission that attempts to denigrate the evidence of Dr Ford and others. There are many!
The Galloway News believes this is a major story and have written to both the DPEA and SPEN for their comments on this extraordinary situation.
If anyone want to read SPEN’s submission please send me a message.
Thanks
Paul Swift on behalf of Galloway Without Pylons.
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