'Do not destroy our countryside' plea by Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow

He reiterated his concerns for the two schemes, which he warned could have a major impact on the landscape and wildlife.

Councillor Barrow's warning comes ahead of a Shropshire Council meeting tomorrow when councillors will be urged to support a motion opposing plans to build pylons for a 33-mile power line linking wind farms in Mid Wales to the national electricity network at Lower Frankton in north Shropshire.

Dart Energy wants to drill a single coal-bed methane exploratory borehole in Dudleston, near Ellesmere, and a decision will be made by a Government planning inspector in the coming months.

Councillor Barrow said he was strongly opposed to the pylons scheme.

"I am totally against this and am concerned about the impact it will have on the countryside," he said.

"These pylons are not normal – they are huge. They will destroy the landscape."

National Grid has said it is developing the proposals as "sensitively as possible".

Meanwhile, Councillor Barrow has welcomed the decision made by members of the authority's north planning committee last week to refuse the plans to drill for gas.

But the decision has been taken out of the hands of councillors after Dart Energy appealed to the Government's Planning Inspectorate to make a decision following a delay of several months.

But the decision has already been taken out of the hands of councillors after applicant Dart Energy appealed to the Government's Planning Inspectorate to make a decision on the plans following a delay of several months.

The decision will now be made by a planning inspector based on written submissions only.

Councillor Barrow said: "I am personally against this one. I think the north planning committee made exactly the right decision when they decided to refuse it.

"When so many people are against it we have to remember we are there to represent people at the end of the day."

He has previously warned that the scheme in Dudleston is the first of what could be many planning applications for test drilling.

Dart Energy has maintained its belief that it provided Shropshire Council enough information for a final decision to be made.

It said the drilling operation would last for a maximum of 60 days and the land would then be restored.