Parish to vote on electricity line plan

Council bosses today unveiled plans for a parish poll for residents to have their say on a controversial new power line near Oswestry.

SP Manweb wants to construct a £6 million overhead wood pole electricity line between Oswestry substation and Legacy, near Wrexham, to increase supply.

The cross-country route being proposed by SP Manweb would see the 132kv line run past Pont y Blew, Chirk, Glyn Morlas, St Martins and Hindford, near Gobowen.

But objectors claim this would ruin beautiful countryside and have called for a public poll to be held.

A spokesman for Oswestry Borough Council said: "The poll will take place on May 15 at St Martins Centre, Overton Road, St Martins, between the hours of 4pm and 9pm.

"No poll cards or postal vote ballot papers are issued in respect of parish polls. Therefore, people need to be aware that the poll is taking place."

The question being asked is: "Should St Martins Parish Council make representations to the Secretary of State for the Environment to request that SP Manweb modify the proposed route of their 132KV power line or place it underground through the parish?"

The spokesman added: "There will be the opportunity of answering the question with either a 'yes' or a 'no'. The outcome is not binding on the council."