Who to Contact About What

SSEN Strathbogie Hub feedback — site selection, cumulative impact and consultation fairness

The first SSEN Strathbogie Hub feedback deadline has passed, but you can still write to SSEN at any time to ask for a fair, transparent and evidence-led site-selection process, cumulative assessment of all overlapping pressures, and proper assessment of roads, farming, landscape, heritage, wildlife, water, noise, lighting and community impacts. You do not have to argue for one site over another. You can ask SSEN to explain how all shortlisted sites have been assessed and how communities will be consulted before any preferred site is selected.

Aberdeenshire planning issue

Use Aberdeenshire Planning for planning questions, comments, existing applications, and the future Strathbogie Hub planning route. General planning email: planning@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Possible breach of planning control in Aberdeenshire

Use Aberdeenshire Planning Enforcement where the planning status, conditions or permission for works are unclear. This follows the wording of Aberdeenshire Council's official enforcement route, “Report a breach in planning control.” Enforcement email: planningenforcement@aberdeenshire.gov.uk. The council says complainant names are not normally disclosed, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed in all legal circumstances.

Moray Council area planning or enforcement concern

Use Moray Council contact routes for planning comments, application searches, planning permission questions, conditions, or possible breaches of planning control in the Moray Council area, including estate, farm, track, yard, quarrying or riverside works where the planning status or conditions are unclear.

Development Management: development.control@moray.gov.uk
Planning Enforcement: planning.enforcement@moray.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 1234561
Post: Development Management, The Moray Council, PO Box 6760, Elgin IV30 9BX

Note: Moray Council web pages have failed for some users, so this guide gives email, phone and postal details rather than web links.

Wildlife crime or immediate wildlife offence

If a crime is happening now, call 999. If not urgent, report to Police Scotland online or by calling 101. Do not disturb evidence. Do not share exact sensitive species locations publicly.

Pollution, watercourse contamination, silt, chemical spill, waste burning, or significant environmental event

Report significant environmental events to SEPA online. For urgent pollution incidents, call SEPA Pollution Hotline: 0800 80 70 60.

Protected species / habitat questions

NatureScot can advise on protected species and licensing. General enquiries: enquiries@nature.scot. Wildlife crime itself should be reported to Police Scotland.

Concern that a public body is not applying environmental law properly

Environmental Standards Scotland looks at public authorities and environmental law compliance. It is not a general planning objection route, but can be relevant where systemic failures arise.

Legal rights / environmental justice advice

Environmental Rights Centre Scotland offers advice routes. Use their Get Advice form where possible.

Use your own words

A short clear message is better than a perfect essay. Say what you saw, where it affects you, and why it matters.

Include facts where you can

Date, time, road name, location, direction of travel, photos, screenshots, document references, and who you already contacted. Keep a copy.

Ask for a written acknowledgement

This creates a record and helps the community understand what has been properly logged.

Keep sensitive ecology safe

Do not post exact nest sites, dens, setts, roosts, or other sensitive wildlife locations on Facebook. Send sensitive information only to the relevant authority.

Do not trespass or confront people

Keep yourself safe. Evidence should be gathered from public places, your own land, or with permission.

Core message

I am asking SSEN to assess the cumulative impact of all overlapping pressures on the Deveron Valley together, not separately.

Site-selection transparency

Ask SSEN to explain, in plain language and evidence, how all shortlisted locations remain under consideration, how they have been assessed, and how communities will be able to respond meaningfully before any preferred site is selected. No farming family or rural community should be expected to carry major harm without proper scrutiny.

Road safety

Ask for an independent rural road safety assessment covering B9022, Huntly approaches, school/nursery routes, farm access, winter maintenance, detours and construction traffic.

Wildlife and ecology

Ask what current surveys have been done, what protected species were considered, how sensitive information will be handled, and whether cumulative disturbance has been assessed.

Farming, homes and mental load

Ask how farm viability, displacement pressure, private water supplies, property impacts, community stress and neighbour division are being assessed.

Consultation quality

If you attended a public event, say whether you were counted, whether maps/brochures were available, whether your questions were answered, and whether you left informed.

Public posts

Avoid naming private individuals, exact home locations, private phone numbers, or sensitive wildlife locations. Keep public wording calm, evidence-led and community-focused.

Formal reports

Formal reports can include more detail, but only send sensitive information to the appropriate authority and keep your own copy.

Emergency

If there is immediate danger to life, serious injury, fire, or a crime happening now, call 999.