Responding to confirmation that the Scottish Government has approved the Skye Reinforcement Project, Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
"Once again, a decision made by those people local communities have elected to represent them is overruled by Scottish Government officials in Edinburgh.
"This is a story repeated across the Highlands and Islands where, time and time again, local democracy is ridden roughshod over and all just to meet SNP renewables targets.
"It is part of a concerning pattern of centralised decision-making that suits the government in Edinburgh and large energy companies, but which sidelines local communities.
“Highland Council’s rejection of the project last year reflected the very real concerns of those living in the affected areas.
"Instead of respecting that decision, ministers have ignored it and, once again, stepped in to force through a development that brings significant disruption to local people and businesses, but with limited local benefit.
“The people of Skye - and those communities living along the route - deserve to be treated better than an afterthought by SNP ministers obsessed with meeting targets".
