Fear that bid for cable will hit tourism

Councillors fear plans for a £13 million overhead electricity line through countryside near Oswestry will damage its tourism industry.

They have agreed to object formally to plans by Scottish Power for the power line, amid concerns it will be detrimental to their efforts to encourage tourists to the area to enjoy the countryside.

Scottish Power wants to construct a 21km line between Legacy substation in Wrexham and Oswestry's substation, saying it would help supply 8,000 homes and businesses in the Wrexham, Shropshire and Powys area. It would run past Pont y Blew, Chirk, Glyn Morlas, St Martins and Hindford, near Gobowen.

Scottish Power has submitted its proposal to the Department of Energy and Climate Change for a decision, members of Oswestry Town Council's amenities committee were told.

Councillor Martin Bennett said although he accepted the proposed line would affect St Martins more than Oswestry, he said it would have a knock-on impact on the town.

He said: "It will have an impact on our local scenery."

Councillor Elaine Channon said: "The line should be going underground rather than spoiling our beautiful locality."

Councillors agreed to write to the Department of Energy and Climate Change objecting to the line and suggesting it should be buried or take a different route.