Evacuation warning over 170-ton truck
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HOMES may need to be evacuated under plans to transport a 170-ton electricity transformer down one of the region’s most notorious hills.
A senior councillor has described the proposal by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) to move the transformer down Culnakirk brae near Drumnadrochit during its two-day journey from Invergordon to Fort Augustus sub station at Auchterawe as “shocking”.
The load would also pass over the historic Lovat and Drumnadrochit bridges.
A more direct route, via the A9 to Inverness and then along the A82, has been ruled out because the load is too heavy for the Kessock Bridge, which has a weight limit of 140 tons.
Councillor Margaret Davidson is particularly concerned about the section down the one in six, three quarter mile long Culnakirk brae overlooking the village of Milton.
“I am really worried about this,” she said. “What would happen if anything went wrong, or it toppled over? I am wondering whether we need to evacuate residents there. That part of the road is on stilts.
“It is a terrible hill — it is bad enough in a car.”
She also queries whether the low-loader would be able to negotiate the tight bend on to the 200-year-old listed Thomas Telford bridge at Drumnadrochit.
The transformer is one of three required at the sub station under work to instal a 400kV power line between Beauly and Denny, near Stirling.
In January, SSE announced its preferred option was to sail the transformer through the Caledonian Canal to a new pier it would build near the Loch Ness Holiday Park south of Invermoriston.
Preparatory work was undertaken and planning consent secured but it now appears talks with the landowner have broken down.
The road journey was due to have been undertaken this coming weekend but SSE confirmed yesterday it was being delayed as further talks take place between the company, Highland Council, Northern Constabulary and Scotland Transerve which is responsible for trunk roads.
An SSE spokeswoman said the complex logistical exercise, which would involve closing the A82, was now expected to take place before the end of September.
“At the end of the day, safety is our highest priority,” she said. “If the route is not feasible, it would not be allowed.”
She acknowledged the company had investigated transporting the load down Loch Ness and agreed this was the most practical option.
“It would have been a solution we would have liked to have reached but it hasn’t been possible to carry out that plan,” she said. “We have had to look to the alternatives and this is what we have done in conjunction with the relevant agencies.”
Scotland Transerve confirmed the load could not be brought down the A9 to Inverness because of the weight limit on the Kessock Bridge.
“All the bridges on the A82 are being assessed for suitability to carry the impact of the load,” he said. “Until that assessment is carried out and we are satisfied there will be no impact on the bridges, the abnormal load will not be allowed to proceed.”
Highland Council is also in consultation with SSE.
“We have a responsibility to protect the road network and SSE is required to provide assessments of structures, road condition and road geometry to satisfy the council that its proposals will not damage the road network or cause any risk to adjacent properties,” a spokeswoman said.
“SSE will be responsible for ensuring the safety of road users and properties during the operation. With the first load movement due soon the council awaits SSE’s formal notification of final proposals for the load and its scheduling.”
Glenurquhart Community councillors were due to discuss the matter with SSE last night.
“We do have anxieties, particularly for properties and people in Milton should there be a catastrophe,” said chairman Pam Lucas.
