Power line critics fear for Shropshire landscape

Power company SP Manweb wants to build three electricity lines from its sub-station at Legacy, near Wrexham, to the Oswestry sub-station to protect supplies. Engineers have warned of the risk of blackouts happening in the area.

Company experts say the continuing increase in demand for electricity means the current two lines are struggling to cope.

Engineers speaking at the inquiry last week said problems, particularly in the winter, could cause a black- out for thousands of customers in the Oswestry, Welshpool and Newtown areas.

But yesterday a number of those objecting to the proposal for the overhead line spoke out at the inquiry.

They told Government inspector Emyr Jones that they wanted all or part of the line to be buried underground.

Ferelith Smith lives in the hamlet of Pont-y-Blew in the Ceiriog Valley between St Martins and Chirk.

She said: "People who live here, tourists who come to the river to picnic and walk, fishermen and canoeists will all be affected by this proposal."

She pointed out that the area had several land designations including special areas of conservation, wildlife sites of county importance and ancient semi-natural woodland.

Councillor Jackie Allen from Chirk Town Council said the community strongly objected to the route of the overhead electricity line.

"This is a part of Chirk designated a special landscape area and as such this wonderful amenity must be preserved," she said.

"At Pont-y-Blew the rivers Dee and Ceiriog meet and the area has historic value. There is no doubt that the overhead line will cause considerable change to the landscape. We recommend that the line is placed below ground."

St Martins resident Ron Allison said: "We already have two major lines, a minor one and a plethora of local, single and three-point overhead supply lines. They are gradually destroying the character and beauty of our parish."