The Cairngorms National Park Authority has formally objected to a major upgrade of the electricity supply from the Highlands to Stirlingshire.
The authority’s planning committee met on Friday to consider a recommendation from planning officials to oppose the proposed “super-pylons”.
The objection focuses on a section of the route for the new pylons which goes through the 4,000 sq km national park.
The plans have been put forward by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE).
They consist of 600 electricity pylons between Beauly in the Highlands and Denny, near Falkirk, running through the Cairngorms National Park and within sight of the
Wallace Monument in Stirling.
Park authority convener Andrew Thin called on SSE to consider more seriously placing the lines underground.
He called on the Scottish Executive to set up meetings with all interested bodies to consider the whole proposal and avoid the need for a public inquiry.
SSE said it hopes to avoid the matter going to a public inquiry by continuing talks with councils.
A spokesman said: “If a public inquiry is called then we will go into that in a positive and constructive way.
“A much better option in terms to resolve the issues, if councils are not opposed to the line in principle and only some of the detail, is to hopefully continue talks
to avoid, or at least reduce the scope, of a public inquiry.”
