Anger moves to SP Energy's power line plans

As all eyes and anger were yesterday focussed on the announcement by National Grid that Cefn Coch is the preferred location for a 20 acre electricity substation, communities on the "feeder" side of the substation are now planning to protest against plans to "decimate" more communities.

SP Energy Networks announced its preferred routes to feed the substation at Cefn Coch from existing and planned windfarms.

This includes a route of wooden pylons widning their way from the eastern side of Llanidloes, past the town and over the hills to Trefeglwys, before heading over to Clatter near Caersws and past a widlife reserve and lakes above Llanwnnog, before arriivng at Cefn Coch.

While the focus has been on the substation and larger pylons from Montgomeryshire into Shropshire, many communities on the other side believe they too will see the local environment dessimated and communities affected.

"All eyes are on the substation and bigger pylons. But SP Energy Networks is planning to feed into this from the other side of the hill and while I know many people are aware of this, the publicity is firmly focussed on the bigger end of the project.

"But what about the communities at Oakley Park, near Llanidloes, Trefeglwys, Clatter and Pontdolgoch and over the lakes?" said one resident who did not want to be named.

"We're facing the same battle, but we're concerned that all eyes and efforts are just focused on the other side of the hill. Our MP and AM keep telling us to all work together, but we're concerned that we're being left to fight our own corner with SP Energy Networks.

"Okay, if the fight against the plans to site the substation at Cefn Coch is successful it won't necessarily need the feeder lines. But they're going to have to go somewhere from the windfarms, and these routes could stay the same whatever the decision over the hill."

SP Energy Networks has called three public meeting and exhibitions to allow residents to meet staff and discuss the impact of its part of the whole pylon scenario.

The first meeting will take place this Saturday (4 August) at Clatter Community Centre between 10am and 4pm.

A second event will be held at Trefeglwys Community Centre on Monday, 6th August between 2pm and 8pm, while a third will be held jointly with National Grid at Cwm Llanllungan Community Centre at Cefn Coch on Wednesday, 8th August between 2pm and 8pm.

Caption: The preferred route of the feeder power line from windfarms into the planned electricity substation at Cefn Coch.

The SP Energy Networks update can be found here: http://www.spmidwalesconnections.info/english/