Let another battle commence

Montgomeryshire’s skyline could change forever under plans to erect a 19-acre power station in the heart of the countryside.

 

A crucial public meeting is being held in Dolfor tomorrow night (Friday) over plans for the large new electricity substation to be built in either Abermule or Cefn Coch, and two campaign groups – HALT and STOP – are set to co-ordinate their efforts to fight the proposal which would see miles of power lines cross-cross the Severn Valley.

 

The meeting will take place in Dolfor Village Hall at 7.30pm and one campaigner has warned us that it will be ‘explosive’ with leading political and civic figures attending.

 

But last night, National Grid outlined why the project was essential by explaining that the electricity infrastructure needs upgrading to cope with 10 planned new wind farms.

 

National Grid project manager Peter Bryant explained: “Electricity is an essential part of our lives and in the coming years the UK faces a major energy challenge.

 

“To meet emission reduction targets and replace ageing power stations, a new wave of lower carbon energy generation is needed. All of this new energy will need to be connected to the electricity transmission network and this will mean building new transmission infrastructure.

 

“We appreciate this is a significant development and we are committed to listening to the views of local people before we make any decisions about the location of the substation or the route corridor.”

 

Forty-eight public exhibitions will be staged between March 23 and May 6 with work on the substation to be completed by 2015. The consultation process will help dictate where it is built.

 

Households across Montgomeryshire will receive a newsletter from National Grid this week announcing its proposals.