Nearly 300 people packed into a public meeting to oppose plans which could see hundreds of power pylons put up across the Shropshire and Mid Wales countryside.

A demonstration was held outside Montford Parish Hall, near Shrewsbury, last night before residents crammed inside for the two-hour debate, which was chaired by Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski.

He was joined by Shropshire Councillor David Roberts and two officials from National Grid on the panel.

People raised concerns including health fears, worries about how overhead pylons could devalue house prices in affected areas and also the impact they would have on the landscape.

Residents also questioned the efficiency of wind power and claimed National Grid was pitting communities against each other by putting forward several routes for consultation.

Campaigners have joined forces to protest about the proposals, which have been put forward to connect wind farms being built in Mid Wales with the National Grid from Oswestry and Shrewsbury. A 400,000-volt connection between a proposed substation and an existing power line will provide the link, either by using underground cables or, more likely, huge pylons.

One resident asked what was the cheapest of the routes for National Grid to implement.

Jeremy Lee, project manager for National Grid, said that detailed costings had not yet been worked up, but added: “If you were looking purely on distance, which is an important factor and reduces the potential for impact on the countryside, perhaps the most direct route would be from Abermule and up the Severn Valley and the central route.”

Jon Swanson, scientific advisor for National Grid, told the meeting that there was no evidence that overhead pylons posed a health risk, although he acknowledged there were some studies which suggested otherwise.

One resident said the plans should be scrapped because of the lack of clarity over the issue of health.

He said: “It’s either good or bad for health there should be no doubt whatsoever. This shouldn’t even be happening in the first place.”

Mr Swanson said: “We do understand how unsatisfactory the situation is with regard to the science aspect. I wish it was otherwise but the research over the years has not yielded definitive answers.”

Mr Swanson said in terms of magnetic fields, underground cables had a higher peak but smaller range than pylons, meaning they were less likely to impact on people living nearby.

By Russell Roberts