Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is hosting two consultation events next week to seek feedback on its proposals to replace a faulty submarine cable which connects Cumbrae to Bute.

Great Cumbrae Island is currently fed by two 11kV submarine electricity cables from the Isle of Bute and following a fault on one of the cables, the electricity to the island is currently being supplied by the second cable.

As the faulty cable was reaching the end of its operational life, SSEN is now proposing to replace the cable to ensure the continued and reliable electricity supply to the homes and businesses of Great Cumbrae.

The open-door events next week will present SSEN's proposals for the location of the new cable, the onshore landing points and installation methods being considered. The feedback received during the events will be used to develop and refine SSEN's plans prior to submitting a Marine Licence Application to Marine Scotland in Autumn 2018.

Kirstine Wood, Lead Stakeholder Manager, SSEN, said:

"As a responsible developer, we have developed our proposals based on a balance of environmental, engineering and economic considerations and want to engage with all interested parties to ensure that our proposals meet the needs of those who rely on the electricity and the marine users of the Clyde Estuary."

"We will be in Millport and Moat next week to listen to all feedback and would encourage anyone with an interest to come along and make their views known to the team so that we can amend our proposals, where applicable, prior to submitting our Marine Licence Application."

The consultation events will take place at the following locations:

Wed 23 May Millport Library, Cumbrae 10am - 5pm

Thu 24 May Moat Community Centre, Bute 6pm - 9pm

The Pre-Application Consultation will remain open until 5 July 2018 and comments should be submitted directly to SSEN. The comments received will then be used in the Pre-Application Consultation Report which will form part of SSEN's Marine Licence Application for a Construction Project which will be submitted to Marine Scotland in Autumn 2018. A formal newspaper advertisement in the local press will notify stakeholders of the application; consultees and members of the public will then have a final opportunity to comment on the application as part of Marine Scotland's consultation process.

For more information on the proposals, please visit:/submarinecables/