Shropshire and Mid Wales pylons decision not due before summer
A decision about the route of a line of electricity pylons across Shropshire and Mid Wales is not expected until next summer, National Grid said today.
The power company wants to build a 400,000 volt electricity line across the Shropshire border to feed electricity, which would be generated from windfarms sited in Mid Wales, into the national power network.
Its proposed route is from an electricity substation at Cefn Coch, west of Welshpool, via Llansantffraid, south of Llanymynech and Oswestry, to Lower Frankton. There it will join the National Grid's main network.
It has not yet been decided whether the lines should go overhead or underground and now National Grid is carrying out studies and surveys to help with this decision.
Jeremy Lee, Mid Wales windfarm project manager, said today he did not expect to have an answer before next summer.
He said land agents acting for the company had been contacting landowners along the route corridor.
This is so they can gain permission to access land to carry out engineering and environment studies to help pinpoint the exact location of the pylons and cables.
Mr Lee said: "We are continuing with the work. We have been speaking to several hundred landowners."
He said there would be surveyors, heritage and archaeology specialists working in the area in coming months.
"We are now looking at the next level of details to decide what route to take in the corridor," he said.
He said National Grid was in talks with Natural England and Countryside Council for Wales as part of the plans.
The company says it wants to keep in touch with the public and will be sending out a newsletter to update people in the area. It is due to be delivered to thousands of homes by the end of this week or the beginning of next week.
