Power bosses behind plans which could see hundreds of overhead cables put up across Shropshire and Mid Wales, today revealed they had spent years pinpointing the best route.

Officials at National Grid said they had carried out in depth research and study to develop its proposals which will see new windfarms being built in Mid Wales connected to the National Grid from Oswestry and Shrewsbury.

A new 400,000-volt connection between a proposed new sub station and an existing power line will provide the link.

Jane Taylor, from National Grid, said the plans had been worked up over two to three years and claimed routes had been considered going east to Ironbridge and south into Herefordshire before being rejected in favour of the current plans.

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,which is expected to be to be completed by 2015.

A definite 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.

The plans include a substation being built in either Abermule, near Newtown, or Cefn Coch, near Llanfair Caereinion.

Ms Taylor said: “We have looked at going to Ironbridge but it would have been a much longer route. We also looked at going south to Herefordshire.

“The routes we are consulting on now are the result of a two to three year study into this.”

Ms Taylor encouraged people to engage with the public consultation to help whittle down the possible routes to just one.

The line could be created from Cefn Coch to Lower Frankton; Cefn Coch to Wigmarsh; Abermule to Lower Frankton; Abermule to Wigmarsh; or Abermule to Walford Heath.

Ms Taylor said: “It could end up with some parts where there is overhead cable and some where there is underground.

“This is one of the things we are trying to tease out at these consultation meetings. If there are areas that are particularly sensitive to them then they can give us feedback.”

Ms Taylor said National Grid had used environmental experts to help draw up suggestions for the possible routes.

But campaigners claim they are worried the plans could “destroy” communities and areas rich in wildlife and beauty. They also say they are concerned about potential health risks.

By Peter Kitchen