National Grid Shropshire and Mid Wales connection plans revealed
National Grid has announced the route corridor and substation site needed to connect new windfarms in Mid Wales to the high voltage electricity network in Shropshire.
Cefn Coch in Powys has been identified as the preferred area for the substation and the 'red north' route via Llansantffraid to Lower Frankton in Shropshire as the preferred route corridor.
National Grid has not yet decided how the connection will be constructed but, based on work so far, it is likely that a combination of both overhead lines and underground cables will be used. Work is set to take place to identify the most appropriate technology for different parts of the route.
National Grid says they have listened to feedback and parts of the corridor in the Vyrnwy Valley could be particularly sensitive to an overhead line, the company’s work also found areas where engineering and other challenges could make undergrounding difficult. National Grid has also listened to the feedback from specialist bodies on the effects of a connection in the Powys uplands. Following the feedback the company made some changes to the route corridor to provide more options for routeing the connection.
Jeremy Lee, lead project manager for National Grid said: “We’ve been very keen to listen to the feedback from local people, and for it to help shape our plans together with the further work we've carried out following our consultation. We believe the substation site and route corridor we've chosen will allow us to balance all the things we have to consider.
“We are at an early stage of this project and still have many decisions to make. We will carry on listening to local views and these will play an important role as our plans progress. We understand people have concerns about overhead lines, but where they are used, we will work hard to reduce any visual effects by routing the line carefully and using appropriate pylon designs which could include the new T-pylon.”
Following the announcement Shrewsbury & Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski said:
“Today’s announcement by National Grid with regards the planned connection of new onshore wind farms to the electricity network does mean that areas of the Rea Valley have been protected, and I clearly welcome this on behalf of my constituents. I mounted a vigorous public campaign against the plans, aided by local councillors Tudor Bebb and David Roberts, and argued that Shropshire’s tourist industry would have been damaged had the route included pylons in my constituency. I am still saddened that areas of our county will be affected though, and urge National Grid to give underground cabling serious and honest consideration. It has been used across Europe with much success, and while the National Grid and wind farm developers have told us that putting cables underground would cost 15 times as much, the evidence from Denmark suggests that this may be a serious overestimation.”
“It is perfectly reasonable to be concerned about climate change and support renewable energy whilst objecting to improperly planned, unsuitably located wind farms. If onshore wind farms are indeed a viable option, it is imperative that they must be put in a sensible location. Tourism is the number one income generator in Shropshire, and we depend upon our beautiful landscape to attract tourists, who come not only from across the United Kingdom but from all around the world.”
Councillor David Roberts added: “After a big campaign locally, I am very pleased that the pylons aren’t coming through my division, but of course we must be ready to help our neighbours fight this awful blight on the countryside.”
So people can find out more information about the selection of the preferred substation siting area and route corridor, National Grid will be holding a number of information events.
Tuesday 7th August | 2pm-8pm
Llanymynech Village Hall, Station Road, Llanymynech, SY22 6EE
Wednesday 8th August | 2pm-8pm
Cefn Coch Cwn Llanllugan Community Centre (Joint with SPEN), Cefn Coch, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 0AE
Saturday 11th August | 10am-4pm
Meifod Village Hall, Meifod, Powys, SY22 6DU
Wednesday 15th August | 2pm-8pm
West Felton Village Hall, Holyhead Road, West Felton, Shropshire, SY11 4EH
Thursday 16th August | 2pm-8pm
Llanfair Caereinion Public Hall, Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 0RY
