Plans to conduct a poll over a controversial proposal for an electricity power line near Oswestry have come under fire – because it could cost a parish council £2,000.

People in St Martins fighting plans for a high voltage power line crossing the countryside between North Wales and Oswestry have called for a parish poll to show the strength of feelings against it.

St Martins Parish Council has agreed to the poll, which is to be held in late April or early May.

But parish and county councillor Bill Jenkins said he feared the cost would have to come from the village improvements budget.

Power giant Manweb SP has applied for permission for the line to link its substation at Legacy to Oswestry.

It says if the third line is not built in the next two years, the supply to Oswestry and further south to Welshpool and Newtown could be put in jeopardy.

Those against the scheme say it should follow the line of the A483/A5 road or be buried underground.

Councillor Jenkins said he did not want the line built across countryside, but the petition circulating in the area and letter writing were preferred ways to object.

But poll supporters say it will show how many people object to the scheme.

Councillor Jenkins said: “There will be a charge of about £2,000 to St Martins Parish Council which, ultimately, will be borne by the electors of this parish.

“The only way I can see of obtaining the money for the poll is by re-directing funds from the budget for, for exa- mple, new parish lighting or a multi-use games area.”

Objector Mac Ozanne is appealing for everyone to write to the Minister of State for the Environment about the issue.

“I would urge everyone to take part in the referendum,” he said.

Manweb has said the current line serves 85,000 customers and the anticipated increase in load by 2010 meant it urgently needed to “reinforce” the network.

“If there is a 0.5 per cent increase, then by 2010 we are going to be exceeding the rating of the circuits.

“We are in dire need of reinforcing the network,” said a spokesman for the electricity supplier.”

Increased costs meant that an underground line was not feasible, he added.