National Grid is accused of dividing opposition over power line

The line would take power from Mid Wales windfarms to a national network substation near Oswestry.

An eight-mile stretch of the line would go underground as it crosses the Meifod valley near Oswestry. The remaining 25 miles is likely to be carried overhead on pylons, possibly using lower height T-pylon poles.

The Montgomeryshire Against Pylons group said it considers undergrounding at Meifod a move to "detach that area's opposition from the communities along the Banwy and Vyrnwy valleys and Shropshire which are going to be devastated by the pylon line".

Robert Hardy, of the campaign group, said: "The National Grid's route announcement would be laughable if it wasn't so serious for the people whose livelihoods and properties will be affected."

He said the line would "destroy the incredible and historic landscape where the hills of Wales open out into the beautiful gentle rolling slopes of the Shropshire Marches, one of the most famous country areas in Britain as celebrated by the poet AE Housman".

And he added: "It is atrocious that such substantial and developing communities as Llansantffraid, Llanfair Caereinon and Four Crosses are being regarded as easy prey for the destruction of their landscapes, and that the beautiful gentle hills into the lovely land of Shropshire could be vandalised in this way."

National Grid spokeswoman Jane Taylor denied the Meifod announcement was a strategy to divide opposition. She said: "We don't seek to divide communities and we carefully consider public opinion, trying to strike a fine balance."