A MORAY COUNCILLOR has queried where through Moray a power company plans to dig a trench to carry offshore power to the Blackhillock Station near Keith.
Proposals for another offshore windfarm were being put to Moray Council’s planning committee on Tuesday when local Keith and Cullen councillor Donald Gatt questioned why the EDF Renewables felt the need to cut such a large trench.
EDF are seeking to place around 90 offshore turbines off the coast that would be capable of generating sufficient power for 750,000 homes. Their early plans were put to Moray’s planning committee a month after the firm had been awarded a contract by the UK Government to sell power generated in the development.
The latest project is the second undertaken by EDF, with both expected to provide a boost to Buckie Harbour and other parts of the region.
However, after planning officer Neal MacPherson explained to members how the power line would probably come ashore in Aberdeenshire and cables then laid overland to Blackhillock, Councillor Gatt said: “The corridor is extremely large – does the company not have a better idea of where they are going to put their trenches?”
In response Mr MacPherson said: “The proposals are at a very early stage and the nature of developments of this nature is that private enterprises do not enjoy the same power as utility companies.
“They have to go into negotiations with landowners to close down the corridor for the cables.”