Consultation begins into power cable replacement

With work to replace three North Isles submarine cables due to take place soon, a six-week consultation on installation design and methods gets under way in Orkney next week.

According to Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSE) the power cables, which together measure 28km in length, are approaching the end of their operational life.

The project to replace the cables — from the Mainland to Shapinsay; from Rousay to Westray and from Shapinsay to Stronsay — were the subject of a consultation last summer and, according to SSE, feedback from these was considered in preparing the designs being presented next week.

A spokeswoman said: “We are keen to secure the thoughts of all interested parties on how we replace these submarine cables, as laying or protecting can have different impacts.

“We would therefore encourage anyone with an interest in this to come along to our consultation events.”

• Tuesday, March 14 – St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall. 10am until 4pm.
• Tuesday, March 14 – Höfn Youth Centre, Westray.  Noon until 2pm.
• Tuesday, March 14 – Stronsay Fishmart. 1pm until 3pm.
• Wednesday, March 15 – St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall. 10am until 4pm.
• Wednesday, March 15 – Shapinsay Community School. Noon until 2pm.
• Thursday, March 16 – Rousay Community School. Noon until 2pm.

Anybody interested in attending an event or responding in writing can find more details at http://news.ssen.co.uk/submarinecables

The consultation runs until April 18, with SSE keen to hear views on any environmental, social and economic impacts the submarine electricity cables might have.