Campaigners take island’s pylons battle to the Senedd

ANGLESEY council has welcomed the support of Assembly members after a campaign against more pylons on the island was taken to the seat of Welsh democracy.

A long-running campaign has been underway on Anglesey against the National Grid’s proposals for a new line of overhead pylons to connect Wylfa Newydd to the main network.

But while Anglesey Council, the island’s MP and AM and several campaigners have set out their stance in favour of the lines being placed underground instead, the Grid has consistently ruled out “undergrounding” due to its extra cost – an estimated £500m.

The Grid has already unveiled plans for a controversial £100m underwater tunnel to avoid pylons across the Menai Strait, but campaigners are concerned about the possible impact on tourism and the tunnel being built so close to people’s homes.

In an event at the Senedd, sponsored and chaired by Anglesey AM Rhun ap Iorwerth, several campaigners who had made the 190-mile trip to Cardiff made their feelings known.

Mr ap Iorwerth said: “It was great to be able to welcome a group of campaigners from Anglesey to the Assembly to show the strength of feeling locally for the need for the Grid to reconsider their plans and put cables underground rather than build new pylons.

“We already know that all elected members on the island share this view with the majority of the people.

“Our challenge is to voice that unanimous view and make sure it is heard by the Grid.”