July 31, 2012
Wales

Politicans outraged at plans to ‘ruin’ Mid Wales

Published by: Richard Jones | County Times | www.countytimes.co.uk 31 July 2012

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies and Montgomeryshire AM Russell George have slammed National Grid’s plans to “ruin” large parts of Montgomeryshire and have called on communities to remain united.

The comments came following this morning’s announcement by National Grid in which they set-out their preferred route corridor and substation site for the Mid Wales Connection Project.

National Grid states that the ‘red north’ route via Llansanffriad to Lower Frankton in Shropshire is their preferred route for more than 100 high-voltage pylons and that Cefn Coch has been designated at their preffered site for the 20-acre electricity substation.

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies said: “National Grid’s announcement today is an outrage.

“The company is spending millions on the instructions of massive foreign energy companies, which are also spending millions foisting their grotesque structures on our countryside and it’s all at the customer’s expense.

“All we have between us and the hell these people want to create is our local council which will be forced to spend massive amounts of our Council Tax in legal costs to protect us.

“None of these millions is factored into the claimed price of onshore wind; its madness and it’s the people who will be forced to pay for it.”

Montgomeryshire AM Russell George added: “As far as I am concerned, there is absolutely no justification for this route announcement today, particularly when we are now not even sure that this level of infrastructure is required.

“The First Minister for Wales has repeatedly stated that there is no need for infrastructure development in Mid Wales of this nature, so why announce a plan that will just cause great concern to communities?

“National Grid is an unelected private company which is proposing to bring forward plans which will ruin large areas of Montgomeryshire, with local communities and elected representatives being ignored.

“Local people are firmly united in not wanting this project which is coming at a tremendous cost to the already overburdened electricity consumer.

I know that there is a united campaign in Montgomeryshire but its important that in the face of this decision today that all the campaign groups across Mid Wales rallying together and remain united.”

William Powell, Welsh Lib Dem spokesman for the Environment, said: “There are no winners from today’s announcement, although there will of course be a natural sense of relief in the village of Abermule and other communities across the route of the potential Severn corridor.

“After so many stressful month of waiting and several postponements, it is an incredibly difficult day for many communities in Montgomeryshire and North Shropshire.”

Campaigner Jonathan Wilkinson, chairman of Montgomeryshire Against Pylons (MAP), concluded: “National Grid seems to have little regard for Mid Wales with these destructive plans they have brought forward.

“They would prefer to increase their profits, rather than underground the entire route.

“The message from communities is that we don’t want to engage with your hideous plans.

“I believe communities will unite to oppose these plans and remain united to stop our beautiful landscape from being blighting