PYLONS PLAN SLAMMED
National Grid accused of ‘running roughshod over people of island’:
THE National Grid was accused of “running roughshod over the people of Anglesey” over plans to erect a fresh network of overhead pylons on the island.
Earlier this month the Grid submitted a proposal to the Planning Inspectorate to connect the planned Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant and marine energy developments in the Irish Sea with the main electricity network.
This provoked a furious reaction, with campaigners calling for underground cables to be used instead.
Ieuan Williams, deputy leader of Anglesey Council made clear his opposition to the plans at a meeting in Menai Bridge on Friday night.
“The Grid simply don’t care what we think and are running roughshod on us as an island,” said Cllr Williams, who confirmed the council was unanimous in its opposition to pylons.
“We will be responding to the Planning Inspectorate and highlighting our concerns over the process.”
According to the Grid, “undergrounding” would cost around £1bn compared to around £550m for erecting pylons.
But farmer Wil Edwards of Rhosgoch, said: “These pylons will effect everyone on Anglesey and we need to pull together and say to the Grid, we don’t want them.
“It’s all about money, what’s a few million to the National Grid? Protecting our island is priceless.”
The “Anglesey Says No to Pylons” group has collected a petition containing over 13,000 signatures, which will be sub- mitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
But Gareth Williams, the Grid’s senior project manager, defended the scheme: “The connection will transport low carbon power to homes and businesses across Wales and the rest of the UK.
“Our application is an important step in unlocking many millions of pounds of local investment and around 9,000 construction jobs,” he said.
The Grid insisted it had listened to people’s concerns and amended its proposal by selecting a route corridor in the centre of Anglesey, avoiding options nearer the coast, avoiding towns and larger villages and proposing a tunnel under the Menai in order to protect the Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and iconic landscape.
“We’ve listened to what people have told us and made hundreds of changes as we’ve developed our plans.
“We believe our proposals offer the best balance of everything we must consider and mean there are no long-term effects for most areas,” Mr Williams added.