Councillors have deferred making a decision about a massive electricity substation proposed for a Highland beauty spot to allow a site visit.
That was despite a planning committee chairman questioning the need for such a trip.
Councillors are being asked to decide whether a substation to accommodate a massive windfarm proposed for the Monadhliath mountains should be approved.
The proposed windfarm – Stronelairg, near Laggan – is currently in the hands of a court, which has prompted objectors to question why the council is even considering the substation.
Steering yesterday’s south area planning committee debate, chairman Jimmy Gray asked colleagues: “If we’ve got all the visuals here to deal with this what’s the benefit of a site visit?”
Badenoch and Strathspey SNP councillor Bill Lobban convinced colleagues that it did merit a site visit – and won a vote 10-5 to ensure they go to the site of the intended 27-acre development.
A date is still to be arranged for the site visit to the Garva Bridge proposal.
Councillors had been urged by their officials to approve the planning application of Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission’s (Shet) proposed facility which would be required for the planned 67-turbine Stronelairg wind scheme which is currently the subject of a legal challenge by wild land charity the John Muir Trust.
The substation idea has been condemned by local mountaineer and broadcaster Cameron McNeish and another local resident Stuart Young of Laggan Bridge.
Mr Young had written to each committee member to point out that because the Court of Session challenge was unresolved the project “does not have planning permission,” and that if the legal challenge succeeded “the substation will not be needed.”
Alastair Brand of Shet said: “Clearly, we are disappointed that no decision was taken in relation to the planning application, particularly given the effort that has been made to address concerns, the planning officer’s recommendation and the lack of local objection.
“That said, we welcome the decision by the committee to visit the proposed site as they will now see the care and attention that has been taken in the siting and design of the site to minimise the visual impact in a sympathetic manner.”