Views aired on pylon plans across region

Campaigners have kept up the pressure against National Grid’s plans to build power lines through Shropshire and Mid Wales.

A resident studies the route of the proposed pylons at the meeting
A resident studies the route of the proposed pylons at the meeting

Campaigners have kept up the pressure against National Grid’s plans to build power lines through Shropshire and Mid Wales.

The protesters attended a public meeting in West Felton near Oswestry yesterday to air their fears over the controversial plans.

And they say they are hoping for another strong turnout at the last of the National Grid-organised public meetings, which takes place today at Llanfair Caereinion Public Hall from 2pm until 8pm.

National Grid plans to build a power line from Cefn Coch near Llanfair Caereinion to Lower Frankton near Oswestry to take energy from Mid Wales windfarms to the national electricity network.

Taking a look at the plans – residents at the public meeting in West Felton
Taking a look at the plans – residents at the public meeting in West Felton

Representatives from Montgomeryshire Against Pylons attended the meeting in West Felton yesterday. Chairman Jonathon Wilkinson said he feared residents who hope that most of the 30-mile power line would be buried underground would be disappointed.

Lower Frankton resident Clive Wilson said: “They still cannot tell me how this will impact on our home. Depending on which exact route they choose the pylons will either come nowhere near us or right past us.”

Paul Crumpstone from National Grid’s project team said more specific details would be available in the first half of next year once the company decided which parts of the line should be underground.