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Search the Public Notice PortalThe new MSP for Cowdenbeath used his first speech in the Scottish Parliament to raise concerns over a new energy link connecting Fife with Norfolk.
David Barratt was elected for the SNP at last month’s Holyrood election and also serves as a local councillor in the Kingdom’s west.
On Thursday he stated in the chamber that his constituency was “forged by both energy boom, and energy decline”, touching on the area’s mining heritage and how it once powered the country.
He stated: “Today the constituency faces a new wave of energy development. Vast solar farms, towering wind turbines, and a massive grid infrastructure in the form of Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL4), a high voltage cable linking Ballingry to Norfolk.
“Ballingry is a proud community with deep roots in its mining heritage, but it is also a community surrounded by energy wealth, while too often seeing little of that benefit.”
The planned Westfield Converter Station will be the starting point for EGL4, which is a joint project between SP Energy Networks and National Grid Electricity Transmission.
Once it’s up and running, it’s anticipated that it will have the capacity to power around two million homes.
Mr Barratt told the chamber: “That cable will transmit electricity to an area in England with lower standing charges than in Scotland itself.
“Energy sent from Ballingry will cost less in King’s Lynn than it does for those who live in Ballingry.
“I do not object to the principle of energy infrastructure, I spent the best part of 15 years working in renewables and energy as a hydrologist and an environmental consultant. What I object to is communities not feeling the benefit.”
The politician’s sentiment echoes that of some residents, such as Richard Mears who previously said that his family feels they are being “hounded out” of their countryside home by energy-related developments.
He had complained: “All this work around us has got nothing to do with Scotland whatsoever, it’s all about pound notes, getting electricity to Norfolk.”
Standing charges are set by energy suppliers, whereas network costs cover use of the gas and electricity distribution network, with money going towards maintaining, running and upgrading the networks.
Millions of pounds in funding have been delivered to communities around similar energy projects connecting Scotland and England, including in East Lothian, Peterhead and County Durham.
It is so far unconfirmed whether the Benarty area will benefit in the same way.
SP Energy Networks have been approached for comment.
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