Pylon inquiry moves to next stage

The plans have led to thousands of objections

Groups opposed to a proposed 137-mile power line upgrade through the Scottish countryside will finish giving evidence at a public inquiry in Perth this week.

The hearing will shortly move on to local sessions in Inverness, Newtonmore, Perth and Stirling.

The Beauly Denny Landscape Group has been setting out arguments against the planned line from Beauly, near Inverness, and Denny, near Stirling.

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) said the existing line has to be replaced.

The opposition group is a banner organisation including the John Muir Trust, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and the Ramblers Association.

Residents have also formed opposition groups, including Highlands Before Pylons and Pylon Pressure, raising concerns about threats to tourism, house prices and health.

The opening stage of the inquiry has been taking place in Perth.

The 11-month inquiry, set to be the longest of its kind in Scotland since devolution, will hear evidence from a long list of witnesses.

The power company said the £320m development was needed for the reliable transmission of electricity from renewable sources from the north of Scotland, which would be enough to power one million homes.

SSE has already ruled out an argument for putting the line underground on cost grounds.