Tuesday June 2nd 2026
Lauderdale Preservation Group graphic of power lines converging at Gala North
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Campaigners in the Scottish Borders have raised concerns about “misleading information” published by Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) ahead of crucial public meetings next week.
SPEN is holding two public drop in events on June 9 and 10 regarding the construction of a Gala North substation near Lauder and the ‘diversion’ of the Cockenzie-Eccles ZA overhead line.
But according to campaigners the focus of the meetings is selective as it does not include four further planned pylon lines, running from Livingston to Lauder and on to Newcastleton, and from Dalkeith to Galashiels.
Six pylon lines would converge at Gala North substation.
SPEN has confirmed that construction would last for two to three years.
Rory Steel, chair of Lauderdale Preservation Group, said: “SPEN is only holding consultations now on a small part of the work planned, saying that public consultations on the other aspects will be held in due course. This is fundamentally misleading.
“The map published by SPEN shows two sections of power line but there would be six sections in all.
“I have written to SPEN asking them to withdraw the documents which are still online and to urgently replace them with accurate, genuine representations of the substation and pylon lines, before the first public event on June 9. It cannot be called a public consultation if the full picture is concealed.”
In addition, the substation would be a connection point for wind, solar and battery energy storage sites up to ten miles away, facilitating further “industrialisation of the countryside”, campaigners say.
These could include: Glenburnie, Ditcher Law, Longmuir, Greystone Knowe, Torfichen, Scawd Law, Woodhead solar farm and the re-powering of Dun Law wind farm.
The substation is proposed for a site adjacent to Threepwood Moss, one of the most important raised bog habitats in South East Scotland.
The Moss is both a European Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a UK Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
NatureScot awarded designation to Threepwood Moss for its rare plant and moss species, including marsh orchid and sphagnum mosses, as well as butterflies and moths.
The area also has an important population of lapwing, a ground-nesting bird which is red-listed by conservationists in the UK, as a species “of most conservation concern”.
SPEN say the proposed Gala North Substation will “play a critical role, along with our other ongoing works in Scotland, to deliver Net Zero by building up capacity and reinforcing the grid network”.
The public meetings are being held on Tuesday, June 9, 3 to 7pm at Lauder Public Hall, The Avenue, and at the same times on Wednesday, June 10, at Blainslie Village Hall, 6 The Croft, Galashiels.
The SPEN consultation document is available here: https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/gala_north_have_your_say.aspx
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