Powys protest over electricity pylons plan

Up to 100 placard-waving villagers in Powys turned out to fight plans which could see massive 46-metre high pylons built in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

The protesters were among more than 500 people who packed out a consultation meeting held by National Grid at Meifod village hall yesterday.

Campaigners against the bid to build pylons and a substation in either Abermule, near Newtown, and Cefn Coch, near Llanfair Caereinion, claim it will destroy communities.

Pete Shah, from Meifod, described the proposals as "industrial vandalism."

He said: "We're concerned about potential health risks, the impact these pylons could have on the economy and tourism and how they will completely destroy the beautiful landscape we have in Meifod.

"I just hope these proposals can be stopped," he added. Robert Harvey, who also lives in Meifod, said: "Hundreds of people turned up to the consultation event throughout the day and we really hope we managed to get our point across.

"We don't want pylons being built in our village or anywhere else in Mid Wales for that matter.

"We intend to fight the plans all the way and will be doing everything in our power to stop these proposals becoming a reality."

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies also attended the meeting and said he fully supported campaigners in their fight against pylons.

"It was a terrific meeting, with at least 100 placard-waving protesters, including youngsters, outside campaigning when I arrived," he said.