Welshpool 'concerned' about pylon plans

More than 80 per cent of people surveyed in a Mid Wales town said they were "concerned" about plans which could see huge pylons built near countryside homes and villages.

The results from the Welshpool Town Council study also showed that 75 per cent of those who responded did not support windfarms as an alternative source of power.

Proposals are out to consultation with 10 possible routes under consideration to link new windfarms in Mid Wales to the National Grid.

The power would be carried across the Mid Wales and Shropshire countryside either by pylons or underground cables.

Welshpool Town Council put a questionnaire through every door in the town last week and quizzed all Welshpool High School pupils.

The results also show that 82 per cent of people are concerned about the pylons, 78 per cent are concerned by the hub and 66 per cent support a public enquiry.

It comes as more than 200 people attended a public me- eting where it was claimed Shropshire's tourist economy would be affected by pylons. The meeting with National Grid representatives in Oswestry took place on Saturday and saw the co- mpany urged to put the electricity cables underground.

The meeting was called by North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, who has now promised to contact Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones about comments he made over windfarms.

Mr Jones had said there should be no windfarms above the number agreed by the Welsh Assembly.

Mr Paterson said: "This could have ramifications for the Mid Wales project and I shall be contacting the First Minister."

Many of those at Saturday's meeting were worried about the impact of a power line. John Hemmings, from Melverley, said there was a real risk and danger to Shropshire's economy, its tourism and farming.

He said the effect on the community should be looked at by National Grid when it was making its decision and called for the company to carry out a risk assessment on Shropshire.

Jeremy Lee, for National Grid, said that the cost of underground cabling would be six or seven times higher than overground pylons, but he stressed no decision had yet been made.

By Andrew Morris