September 11, 2014
Wales

Council tells power companies to put power lines underground

Rebecca Cole | Rhyl, Prestatyn & Abergele Journal | 10 September 2014 | www.rhyljournal.co.uk

Councillors have unanimously voted that any power line to connect North Wales wind farms to the grid be laid underground.

Members of Denbighshire Council backed a motion, tabled by councillors Joe Welch, Colin Hughes, Geraint Lloyd-Williams, Meirick Lloyd Davies and Eryl Williams, to “take a firm stance” in the hope that any future planning applicants would listen to the authority’s wishes.

Cllr Welch told members the planning committee had already agreed the motion but appealed to the council as a whole to do the same.

Cllr Julian Thompson-Hill questioned whether the motion would prejudice any future planning decision but Graham Boase, head of planning, said the authority would not be the decision maker, the planning inspectorate would be, with Denbighshire Council acting as a consultee.

However he added: “It does leave room for potential criticism that we came to a decision before the planning application was even submitted.”

He also advised councillors not to ‘close your minds’ on the matter.

Cllr Geraint Lloyd-Williams also warned members that to run a power line underground was much more expensive than overhead.

Council leader Cllr Hugh Evans reminded members they had a responsibility to speak up for residents who he described as ‘really concerned’.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/09/11/council-tells-power-companies-to-put-power-lines-underground/