Extra time for power line and hub consultation

Consultation on planned power lines from windfarms in Montgomeryshire feeding into the National Grid in Shropshire has been extended.

ScottishPower has extended the public consulation by six weeks to the 20th June. It follows widespread concern at public meetings throughout the area about the planned 154ft pylons and 19 acre hub which could be sited at Cefn Coch, near Llanfair Caereinion, or Abermule, near Newtown. The line and power hub will be used to feed from around 20 planned windfarms in the area.

The extension to the consultation means the public and organisations will have longer to comment on the proposals.

MyNewtown and MyWelshpool revealed last week how the planned hub and pylons could cost the taxpayer tens of thousands of pounds. The local authorities, police and other organisations will be expected to foot the bill for the ongoing process as well possible costs in infrastructure. Roads, roundabouts and bridges might have to be upgraded to cope with the transportation of the future windfarms, the pylons and bringing the 240 tonne transformers to the site of the substation.

In the past companies behind such plans have had to contribute to such a bill, but to date there has been no public acknowledgement of this.