Residents 'terrified' by National Grid bailiffs over Shropshire and Mid Wales pylon plans, says MP
Residents were left "terrified" by bailiffs working on behalf of National Grid on plans to build a power line across Shropshire and Mid Wales, MPs have been told.
Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies accused the firm of sending the bailiffs to people's homes to "enforce its will" during an adjournment debate in Westminster Hall.
National Grid wants to link proposed wind farms across Mid Wales to the national energy supply by building a substation in Cefn Coch, near Llanfair Caereinion and a power line to the energy system in Lower Frankton, near Oswestry.
Mr Davies said: "I will describe the way in which National Grid has behaved in Montgomeryshire and North Shropshire. I have been shocked by it.
"I believe fellow MPs, the minister, and the public will also be shocked to learn about the tactics that this massive leviathan of an industrial complex - and it's agents, have used to force its will on the local population."
He added: "This is desecration of landscape on a mind-blowing scale. Not surprisingly, it has outraged much of the local population.
"It's nothing more than outright bullying, using size and money to crush a local population.
"Over the last year or so, I have had countless frightened constituents ring me, terrified by the bailiffs employed by agents Bruton Knowles of Gloucester, to enforce National Grid's will.
"A constituent rang me recently to say bailiffs entered his property without permission using profane language, and frightening his wife and children who fled to a back room. The police were involved.
"Another constituent, who lives in an isolated property rang me to say eight men from National Grid suddenly appeared on her drive.
"She sent her children upstairs and locked all the doors. Her husband was at work. She was terrified. Another 85-year-old constituent was advised by her friends to co-operate because of concerns for her welfare."
Mr Davies said he attended one meeting where National Grid had brought along an "enforcer" like the Gene Hunt character from TV's Life on Mars.
"There were also police officers there, as there have been throughout this supposed 'consultation' exercise," he said.
"I received an email two days ago from the son of an 83-year-old constituent who has had to come and protect his father, who encountered two strangers emerging from behind his garage uninvited and unknown. I could go on."
Shrewsbury & Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynksi backed Mr Davies at yesterday's debate.
He said: "I would like to praise my neighbour for the dogged way he is fighting for his constituents.
"The National Grid could not find a place further away from its current supply and in addition to Montgomeryshire, huge swathes of Shropshire will be covered by pylons if this gets the go ahead."
Jane Taylor, National Grid spokeswoman, said: "We work hard to engage with people on our proposals and have had lots of comments from local communities which have influenced our work. Where we ask to carry out surveys on private land, we always seek to work closely with landowners.
"A large number of people along the route have agreed for our team to work on their land and we always complete our work as sensitively as possible.
"We know people would also like us to wait for the outcome of the wind farm inquiry before we move forward with our plans.
"However, we also have a legal duty to provide a connection for the wind farms as soon as they start generating electricity should they go ahead.
"Due to the time it takes to develop a new connection, we have to develop our proposals in parallel. "We always keep our work under review and if it's established there is no need for a new connection, we wouldn't build one."
