New consultation on £18m power line for north Shropshire
Further consultations on an £18 million scheme to increase electricity capacity across north Shropshire will take pace in the autumn.
Design work is currently being carried out for the new overhead power line proposed by Scottish Power Energy Networks.
The second stage of consultation, which is due to take place in October, will allow those affected by the scheme to comment on more detailed plans for the new line, including wood pole locations.
The consultation phase will be followed by a formal application in 2018 for government consent for the route.
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The upgrade will benefit Oswestry, Wem and Whitchurch as well as surrounding villages.
It will will include a new 132,000-volt overhead power line built between Oswestry and Wem. The line will run between Oswestry substation, located at the A5/A495 roundabout, and the Wem substation, in Ellesmere Road, on the western side of the town.
It is hoped construction on the new line will start by 2020 and take about 12 months to complete.
Paul Ferguson, a spokesman for SP Energy Networks, said: "The next update will be our newsletter in May and the next round of public consultation events is still planned for October."
It has previously been claimed by SP Energy Networks that the scheme will boost business. Mr Ferguson, speaking last year, said: "The proposed line will provide additional capacity to facilitate growth and development across north Shropshire, including both new homes and land identified for industrial development.
"We have reviewed Shropshire Council's development plans for north Shropshire through to and beyond 2026.
"It will also provide an increased level of resilience to the existing 30,000 homes and business across the area."
