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Kenny Logan says SNP is unfit to govern

Kenny Logan, the former Scotland rugby international, has said Alex Salmond "cannot be trusted" to govern after his administration approved the construction of a 137-mile line of pylons.

Logan, who has voted for the SNP in the past, said he was "sickened" by the decision to give the go-ahead to the power line, whose proposed route runs through his Stirlingshire farm, despite the objections of 18,000 people.

He said he and his wife, Gabby, the BBC sports presenter, were considering legal action to force Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) to bury parts of the line underground.

Approval for the line was given earlier this month by Jim Mather, the energy minister, following a year-long public inquiry.

Mather later revealed that he had rejected the inquiry reporters' recommendation that consent be withheld on two sensitive sections of the line.

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While he has since accepted that the line could be located underground in those parts he said, the decision rested with SSE.

Logan, who has asked for a meeting with Mather, said the way the issue had been handled had convinced him Scotland should not be independent.

"We have a government that doesn't listen to the people of Scotland. Key decisions have been handed over to the energy company, we can't control what it does yet the SNP wants to go for independence?" he said. "It's an embarrassment. I wouldn't trust them and I can't wait for the next election because I won't be voting SNP."

Logan said health issues surrounding the line had been "swept under the carpet".

"People tell me how much they love Scotland and it's scenery but what are we doing? We're planting massive pylons right through the middle of the country. What annoys me is that ministers haven't listened to us. I'm all for Scotland growing and becoming a healthier and better place, I'm proud to be Scottish but I'm not proud of this."

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The Beauly to Denny line, which would involve upgrading around 600 pylons has been described by ministers as vital for unlocking Scotland's potential as a renewable energy powerhouse and helping them meet ambitious energy targets such as generating 50% of electricity from renewables by 2020.

Since it was approved almost two weeks ago, several wind farms have been given the green light.

These include a 33-turbine, 118 megawatt (MW) scheme at Muaitheabhal, on Lewis, proposed by developer Nick Oppenheim on his Eisgen estate. The £120m project will provide green electricity for 55,000 homes and create about 150 jobs.

Others are the 52.5MW Baillie wind farm near Thurso which will supply almost 25,000 homes and an extension to the Rothes wind farm near Elgin to boost capacity to 95MW.

The power line is also crucial for the transfer of green energy from planned wave turbines in the Pentland Firth to England and Wales.

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However, critics argue that the overhead line, which will run through the Cairngorms national park, will ruin the natural landscape. Other sensitive areas along the route includes parts of the isolated peak Schiehallion, near Aberfeldy, as well as Strathearn and the ancient Sheriffmuir battleground.

Last week, Mather admitted to the Scottish parliament's energy committee that he had rejected calls from the public inquiry to withhold approval of parts of the line in favour of green-lighting the whole development. However, he said,parts of the line might still be buried underground.

David McElhose, from Scotland Before Pylons, which has campaigned for parts of the line to be underground, said the body was taking legal advice on challenging the power line on human rights grounds. "My concern is that the government has not recognised the economic benefit of Scotland's built and natural heritage. That is being sacrificed for short-term gain," he said.

It emerged earlier this month that Ofgem, the energy regulator, had given SSE permission to recoup from energy consumers £5m of legal costs it paid to defend the Beauly to Denny line at the public inquiry. The company recorded profits last year of more than £400m.

A Scottish government spokesman said Logan's request for a meeting with Mather would be considered. He added that proposals to mitigate the visual impact of the line had been invited.

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"The energy minister considered fully and carefully the objections and representations received and the detailed and extensive submissions made to the public inquiry and agreed with the reporters that there is a pressing need to reinforce the electricity grid and a compelling justification for the Beauly to Denny upgrade, to unlock Scotland's massive renewables potential."