Plan to bury power lines
Overhead electricity cables stretching across Shrewsbury could be placed underground as part of a major scheme to redevelop the county town's former MEB depot. The cables stretch from the giant pylons at the site on Spring Gardens, Ditherington, across the north of Castlefields, over the river, over the bypass, and into Monkmoor.
The land was once rejected by the borough council as a potential site for its new headquarters, because of concerns about possible health risks from overhead power lines and other electrical equipment at the site.
But developers now plan to build almost 200 homes on the site.
Andrew Sheldon, land director for Persimmon Homes Mercia, said: "We have submitted a planning application for a range of two bedroom apartments to five bedroom detached homes. The planning application incorporates the electricity substation remaining in its present location.
"We are in discussions to examine the possibility of placing the existing overhead cables underground but nothing has been decided at this stage."
Councillor Chris Freestone, of Underdale ward, said the pylons were an eyesore on Judith Butts Gardens. He said: "People are worried about living near them . . . it would look better if they weren't there."
Councillor Andrew Wagner, of Castlefields ward, said: "I would expect the housing scheme to allay the fears of those living and working in the area."
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