Pylons protesters will lobby Welsh Assembly

Thousands of campaigners fighting to halt plans that could see hundreds of pylons built across Shropshire and Mid Wales will descend on Cardiff next month to lobby politicians.

More than 1,500 people packed Welshpool Livestock Market last night at one of largest Montgomeryshire public meetings for years.

And among the campaigners were weather presenter Sian Lloyd and Jane Ashley, the daughter of fashion designer Laura Ashley.

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies, who organised the meeting, said he would lead thousands of people to the Welsh Assembly to help fight the proposals. He said he would also be calling for a debate in Westminster but the deciding vote would ultimately rest with politicians in Cardiff.

"We need to get bus-loads of people to go down and make the politicians in Cardiff see that we mean business and are not going to let this happen," said Mr Davies.

Miss Ashley, who grew up in Montgomeryshire, urged people to fight the proposals with their hearts.

"I am anti wind farms being built in such tranquil places and I think these proposals should be opposed with all our hearts."

This was backed by Ms Lloyd who said: "I feel very strongly about windfarms and think they are the biggest fraud and con out there." She said that during the freezing cold winter there was, at times, no wind at all.

"And winter is a time when we need this energy more than ever and the wind turbines just don't work."