Alliance group forms to fight Shropshire and Mid Wales pylon plans

And members of the new group, called The Alliance and comprising 16 separate organisations, have also launched a £100,000 appeal to help them battle controversial energy plans. The Alliance has already employed a London planning law barrister to represent them.

The hearing will be part of a major public inquiry in the summer into the plans for wind turbines in Mid Wales.

The cash appeal will also meet the cost of having expert witnesses attend the inquiry.

Campaigners say the decision of the public inquiry will be key to whether a series of pylons are built through the Mid Wales and Shropshire countryside to take the power generated from the turbines to the national electricity network.

David Ward, from Shropshire North Against Pylons (Snap), one of the groups in The Alliance, said the freshly formed organisation was the result of talks between various campaign groups including Montgomeryshire Against Pylons and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales.

He said: "Sixteen groups have joined The Alliance and together we are fighting to put our case that these wind turbines would be disastrous for the landscape of Mid Wales.

"These turbines will be 137 metres high which is bigger than the London Eye.

"The Alliance is raising money for its fight.

"We have already employed a London barrister from a major planning law firm.

"Funds are also needed to engage planning and landscape consultant witnesses. This will cost over £100,000."

The inquiry into proposed windfarms at Llanbadarn Fynydd, Llaithddu, Llandinam, Llanbrynmair and Carnedd Wen in Mid Wales will take place in June.

National Grid's preferred route for the major power line is from Cefn Coch near Llanfair Caereinion to Lower Frankton near Oswestry.

It says it will announce later this year which parts will be buried underground and which will be carried overhead on pylons.

Campaigners fear the line will devastate the landscape which would badly hit the tourism industry.