A leading scientist who believes that proposals to expand a Highland power station could increase the risk of childhood leukaemia, as well as some degenerative diseases among adults, has been barred from giving evidence to a public inquiry.
Roger Coghill, an expert biologist and member of SAGE, the British government's Stakeholder Advisory Group on Electro-magnetic fields (EMFs), had been asked to present evidence on behalf of residents at an inquiry being held in Beauly this week.
In pre-inquiry documents Mr Coghill suggested that enlarging the sub-station, which is operated by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), could increase the risk of leukaemia among children by almost five times, and contribute to other degenerative conditions in adults, including Parkinson's Disease.
He also pointed out that a previous public inquiry into a huge power line from Beauly to Denny, in Stirlingshire - which has prompted the sub-station expansion proposals - had failed to examine properly the health risks associated with EMF emissions.
However, the reporter conducting the hearing ruled that his evidence was inadmissible on the grounds that he had criticised government policy and dealt with issues out with the scope of the proceedings.
Mr Coghill, who had been asked to give evidence by the residents of Wester Balblair near Beauly, yesterday accused the Scottish government of ignoring the health risks associated with the proposed scheme.
“My evidence is different, new and more important than that given to the power line inquiry,” he said. “Studies are coming up all the time. Two weeks ago research showed that foetuses in the womb have their brain development altered by the kind of electric field levels we are talking about here, but the reporter has drawn a line at December 2007 when the power line inquiry ended and ignored the new evidence that has since emerged.”
He claimed that the SNP administration was “kowtowing” to the energy industry, and indeed Westminster, as it had accepted without question safety limits on EMF emissions adopted by the British government, which other countries have now rejected.
“Scotland has its own parliament but it is just rubber-stamping what Westminster told it to do,” he said.
Steve Byford, a member of Kilmorack Community Council who has campaigned against the sub-station proposals said he was deeply disappointed that Mr Coghill had been excluded from the public inquiry.
“The health issues surrounding the sub-station are not the same as the Beauly-Denny line,” he said. “The plans are also premature as the Beauly-Denny line decision has not yet been made.”
The inquiry began on Tuesday and is due to continue until tomorrow. It was held after SSE's planning application was rejected on three separate occasions by Highland councillors. More than 1,200 objections have raised.
SSE argue the expansion is necessary to deal with the anticipated extra demand created by a proposed 400,000 volt transmission line upgrade between Beauly and Denny.
The Beauly Denny inquiry closed in December but a decision is not expected until the end of this year.