Controversial plans that could see electricity pylons stretching for miles across the Shropshire and Powys countryside have been greeted with a mixed reaction by villagers near Shrewsbury.

Plans would see new windfarms being built in Mid Wales connected to the National Grid between Oswestry and Shrewsbury through a new 400,000-volt cable. The National Grid held the latest in a string of public consultation events at Baschurch Village Hall yesterday.

Members of the public were able to view the plans and chat to project leaders.

Opponents fear the project will be a “waste of money” and could create a blot on the landscape and harm the environment.

But the scheme’s backers say windfarms are needed to address a growing shortage of non-renewable energy and played down fears of the environmental impacts of the pylons.

Rita Freeman, who lives a few miles from Baschurch, said: “Windfarms are not an efficient way of generating power.

“I have real sympathy for Welsh people who will have to live near them.”

Another resident living in the area said the project was going to be a waste of money considering the amount of power it was going to generate.

But Derek Vine, of Baschurch, said: “I am all for the project. I think windfarms are needed and are a good thing.

“It won’t directly affect me, but if I lived right under a pylon then obviously I would think differently.

“I think putting sections underground would have more of an impact on the environment than installing pylons.”

He added: “Pylons have been around for years and are already part of the environment.”

Steve Boulding, a Green Party campaigner, agreed with proposals in principle, but warned he would come down hard on project leaders if they didn’t listen to the public.

“I agree with the idea of using renewable energy from Mid Wales, but I want to be clear on where they intend putting the pylons.

“They need to think hard about putting them in areas which will be less damaging to the environment.

“An option is to put some sections underground.”

Consultation meetings with communities along the proposed line of the pylons have been taking place on both sides of the Welsh border to explain more about the project, due to be completed by 2015.

A route has not yet been chosen for the line and the National Grid has stressed no decision has been made about whether it would go under or overground.

Speaking at yesterday’s event, Peter Bryant, senior project manager for National Grid, said: “Obviously we are not going to be able to appease everybody, but the purpose of these events is to get people’s thoughts on the project and help us decide what way it should be taken forward.”

The next National Grid exhibition was due to be held today at Westbury Village Hall until 4pm.

By James Pugh