Angus MP lodges question over ‘flawed’ consultation

MP Dave Doogan will receive a written response from Grant Shapps.

The MP, who has met with SSEN previously and put across the concerns raised by his constituents, spoke in the House of Commons following the energy company’s recent decision to extend its consultation on the scheme until Friday, July 28.

Speaking from the green benches, Mr Doogan said: “Communities in my Angus constituency - in Padanaram, in Forfar, in Aberlemno and in Stracathro - have been on the receiving end of an extraordinarily flawed consultation by SSEN to take a 400 kilovolt line from Tealing to Kintore.

“I welcome the investment in that - can the Minister advise what are the minimum standards for consultation for capital infrastructure of this nature, and why will Ofgem not mandate that there’s a community benefit?”

In response, Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, replied that he would write to Mr Doogan with a response.

Speaking after his question in Parliament, Mr Doogan said that he looked forward to the Secretary of State’s response to the situation.

He added: “Communities must never be taken for granted in these projects, and maximum consideration must be given to the least disruptive routes.”