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Landowners Urged to Seek Advice on Major Power Line Project
April 7, 2011
Shaun Jones of Halls Professional Team is advising landowners and farmers to attend public
exhibitions in their home area to view proposals to connect windfarms in Mid
Wales to the national grid in Shropshire.
Shaun says it’s important
that landowners and farmers pay close attention to the two proposed substation
sites and the route of power lines from North Powys to the Shropshire
border.
National Grid is holding 48 public exhibitions, which started this week and
run until May 6, as part of a comprehensive consultation exercise.
The two proposed substation sites are at Abermule, near Newtown and Cefn
Coch, near Llanfair Caereinion. A substation is needed to collect power from a
cluster of windfarms, to which new 132,000 volt connections are being
developed.
A new 400,000 volt connection from the substation will then link up with an
existing National Grid line either near Oswestry or Shrewsbury. The connection
could be by overhead or underground cables, or a combination of both.
“It is potentially the biggest infrastructure project for the area in the
last 30 years and is going to have a huge impact on a large number of landowners
both in North Powys and Shropshire,” said Mr Jones. “It’s important that they
seek professional advice if they wish to object to the substation location or
the proposed power cable connection routes.
“The proposed pylons are 150 feet tall, 350 yards apart and, potentially,
very intrusive within the landscape. Due to renewable energy targets it is
highly likely the scheme will go ahead. Objections need to be well researched to
be persuasive and they must be submitted by June 3.
“Proposed cable routes include the corridor along the A458 from Abermule
along the northern side of the Rea valley from Forden via Worthen to Cardeston
and Walford Heath.
“The proposed route from the Cefn Coch substation will go along the A495
through the Meifod valley via Llansantffraid, Maesbury Marsh, Queen’s Head to
Lower Frankton. Other routes will involve Arddleen, Melverley Green, Argoed,
Shotatton and Wigmarsh.
“Those that are affected by the proposed works will also need professional
advice to assess compensation payments, which we can handle.”
Halls, which has network of 10 offices - including Welshpool. Bishops
Castle and Oswestry - across Shropshire, Mid Wales and Worcestershire, is
expecting a flood of enquiries resulting from the proposed works by National
Grid and ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN).
Mr Jones, who is based at Halls’ headquarters in Shrewsbury, can be
contacted on Tel: 01743 284777.
