North Shropshire power lines plans to go on show
Plans for a 21-kilometre, £18 million pylon line in north Shropshire are to go on show to the public.
The plans for the new wooden pole overhead electricity line will strengthen supplies to the Wem area, experts say.
SP Energy Networks, which is behind the scheme, says it wants to hear the public's views on the route of the line as it crosses the countryside from Round Wood to Wem substation.
As part of the consultation, five public information days have been planned in early December in Wem, Whittington, Hordley, Cockshutt and Oswestry.
In May 2017, the company published its preferred line route with options near the Woodhouse Estate, Lower Hordley and Noneley.
The preferred route has now been refined further, showing the proposed locations for placing wood poles and the underground cable needed for the new circuit.
The electrical circuit will be buried for the 1.2 kilometres between Oswestry substation and Round Wood, a decision influenced by the existing overhead lines at Oswestry substation, as well as the A5.
"The cable would be buried one metre deep, and any land affected by this work will be reinstated following construction. The land near to Oswestry substation, east of the A5, has been designated for business growth and the company will ensure their plans have as little impact on this as possible," Mark Sobczak, 132kV General Manager at SP Energy Networks, said.
From Round Wood to Wem substation, there will be 21 kilometres of wood pole line with around 176 wooden poles at an average height of 12 metres.
"The preferred locations for the wood poles have been identified, within a 25 metre temporary construction works corridor," Mr Sobczak said.
"For the purposes of this consultation, the 25 metre temporary construction works corridor has been extended to 40 metres. This additional area allows for minor changes to take place, following landowner discussions and should any new information become available through the consultation.
“We look forward to this consultation period opening and meeting with people across North Shropshire to talk about our plans. The proposed pole locations have been designed to reduce the effects on important sites, communities and properties, based on the information local people have given us and our technical surveys.
"Our proposals are based on conversations with landowners and residents, which have helped refine our design. Since 2016, we have received hundreds of comments on the proposals and we have undertaken a wide variety of studies, all of which have helped to shape our plans. We want to encourage as many people as possible to come and view our plans and talk to the project team.”
The feedback will be used for SP Energy Networks to finalise the plans, ahead of submitting a formal planning application in 2018.
Consultation meetings will be held on: December 2, Wem Town Hall, 11am to 4pm; December 5, Whittington Community Centre, 4.30 to 8pm; December 6, Hordley and Bagley Village Hall, 2.30pm to 6.30pm; December 12, Cockshutt Memorial Hall, 2.30pm to 6.30pm; December 13, Eastern Oswestry Community Centre, 4pm to 8pm.
