An energy company has failed to allay fears that transporting heavy electricity transformers for the Beauly to Denny power line down a steep Highland hill could endanger nearby homes and buildings.
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) cannot take the massive trailer units, each weighing 250 tons, across the Kessock Bridge at Inverness because they are too heavy for the 30-year-old structure, but plan to detour over ancient bridges and roads en route from Invergordon to Fort Augustus power station at Auchterawe.
It is planned to inch the 195ft long low-loaders down Culnakirk Brae, a steep 15% incline near Drumnadrochit, then across Lovat Bridge, Drumnadrochit Bridge and Borlum Bridge. The Kessock Bridge weight limit is 140 tons.
Local people are concerned that the loads could topple on their way down the one in six, three quarter mile long gradient. They are also unhappy about them being taken across these historic bridges.
Representatives of SSE this week attended a Glenurquhart Community Council meeting to reassure locals that the movements would be safe.
But chairwoman Pam Lucas yesterday said: “We’re no happier now than we were before they came.
“They said they were using a specialist company, escorted by the police, and that it would be moved overnight, but we never had a proper explanation as to why they couldn’t use a different route.”
Local Highland councillor, Margaret Davidson, said she was “extremely concerned” about the manoeuvres and wanted reassurance it was safe to bring them down Culnakirk. “If these things get out of control, they are so big that they will take out everything in their path,” said Ms Davidson.
She said the company won planning permission for the power station five years ago so had plenty of time to come up with a better means of transporting the transformers, such as along the Caledonian Canal from Inverness Harbour.
A spokesman for SSE subsidiary Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd said: “We would like to reassure local residents and road users that safety is and always will be our number one priority and every step has been taken to ensure the safe delivery of the transformer.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “SSE has consulted the council in preparation for transporting three heavy transformer units between Invergordon and Auchterawe by road. SEE will be responsible for ensuring the safety of road users and properties during the operation.”
And a spokesman for trunk roads agency Scotland Transerv said: “Every sensitive area is clinically assessed as to its suitability for the loads to pass. This process is currently underway.”