Police called to Ironwork Centre as Shropshire pylon protest turns heated
Angry staff filled the car park of a Shropshire tourist attraction after a visit from officials who plan to erect an 80ft tall pylon in the grounds of the site.
Officials from National Grid visited the British Ironwork Centre at Aston, near Oswestry, yesterday morning for a meeting with centre chairman Clive Knowles.
But the meeting became heated after Mr Knowles told them that they would not be able to use their cars to leave unless some peace of mind was offered.
Mr Knowles said the officials took his comments as a threat and called police.
He said: "Police officers arriving at the scene, witnessed a meeting being held whereby emotions were running high and staff were picketing the National Grid's cars, along with a forklift and a telescopic handler. In reality no officials had actually been stopped or had attempted to leave.
"They were always free to leave, but I had wanted to ensure they understood the importance of not leaving again without offering some reassurances of not destroying plans and the creation of what is Shropshire's only sculpture park.
"They are an enormous organisation and their resources are vast, so to get them to listen, to have some compassion, it's really is an uphill struggle."
The pylon would be part of the Mid Wales Connection Project and would see a power line put in from four new wind farms on the Welsh coast to the mains line just north of Oswestry.
Plans for the route show one of the pylons inside the sculpture park at the centre, but Mr Knowles has said if that happens it could have devastating consequences as it would put off tourists and visitors.
A National Grid spokesman said: "Four members of our team were meeting with a local business today to get their comments on our work so these could be taken into account. We've met this business a number of times, but unfortunately on this occasion our staff were stopped from leaving the premises. The safety of our staff and local people is very important and the police were called to resolve the situation. Our team members were allowed to leave. Our consultation is ongoing and we continue to be open to listening to people so their views can influence our proposals."
