Save Our Landscapes and Livelihoods
Say No to Giant Pylons
Action Against Pylons: Scottish Borders Alliance is a voluntary coalition of ten independent community action groups that live along the route of Scottish Power Energy Networks’ (SPEN) proposed Cross Border Connection and its associated energy storage, regulation and transmission infrastructure.
The UK and Scottish Governments plan to send renewable energy generated in Scotland to England via a new 80km 400kV overhead powerline which they call an energy 'Superhighway'. Its construction will ruin vast swathes of Borders countryside forever.
Scottish Power Energy Networks’ (SPEN) preferred route for the ‘superhighway’ runs from Threepwood near Lauder to the Scottish-English Border near Newcastleton. For reasons that are not entirely clear SPEN are calling the proposed site of the substation at Threepwood ‘Gala North’.
The proposed installation of giant pylons, battery storage sites and electricity sub-stations within unspoilt countryside would cause immense and irreparable damage to our landscape forever.
There is no benefit to local people as all the energy produced will be sent to England.
Due to the lack of clarity of information shared by SPEN via all of its communication channels (virtual and physical) we remain in the dark as to the true detail of SPEN’s proposals. Despite SPEN’s claim that it will continue ‘to work positively with the community’, we find SPEN’s conduct of the first round of consultations at best untransparent.
Our Coalition
We represent communities most negatively impacted by the proposals and the many who feel compromised to speak out due to conflicted issues relating to landownership and livelihoods.
Take Action Update
The consultation period re SPEN’s revised cross border connection proposals ended on 2 May 2025. We believe Scottish Power is engaging in what is commonly referred to as ‘salami slicing’ — the practice of dividing a large, contentious project into smaller components for consultation, thereby reducing the apparent impact and minimising public objections. This piecemeal approach prevents communities from fully understanding the cumulative effect of the development and inhibits meaningful participation in the planning process.
In particular, the consultation surrounding the proposed so-called Gala North substation and the related battery energy systems has been disingenuous and misleading.
What now?
Please sign our petition if you have not already done so, and share the link with your friends and and neighbours. We have the support of our MP, MSP, and local councillors. But we can’t do it alone. We need your help to reach 10,000 signatures!