Power substation to be located at Cefn Coch

 

The announcement came this morning and was met by outrage with Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies branding it “hideous”. Energy chiefs say the project is needed to carry the extra power from proposed windfarms to the National Grid across the border.

 

Montgomeryshire Against Pylons has asked protesters to gather at the Cefn Coch Inn tonight at 5pm, while ScottishPower Energy Networks, who are responsible for constructing the project, say they will hold a another round of public consultations in Clatter (August 4), Trefeglwys (August 6) and Cefn Coch (August 8).

 

Mywelshpool has seen a copy of the newsletter being sent to all residents on the route outlining the scale of the project coming their way. It shows a shorter pylon route than initially planned along with 14m wooden pylons as opposed to 27m metal ones.

 

Frank Mitchell, CEO of ScottishPower Energy Networks, said:

 

“The announcement today from National Grid on the location of the substation at Cefn Coch will allow us to put forward our plans for the initial wind farm connections in Mid Wales, and discuss these plans with the local communities.

 

“The next stage in this process will involve a series of public events at locations close to our proposed route corridors which will give members of the community an opportunity to find out more about our refined plans and ask questions about how we have reached our conclusions. In addition to these events we will be holding further sessions, starting in September, to discuss design aspects with local communities.”

 

Initially, Cefn Coch was proposed along with Abermule and MP Glyn Davies is urging all protesters from both valleys to unite.

 

“Wherever National Grid decided to site their massive substation complex and hideous pylons, it is an outrage,” he said.

 

“National Grid is spending millions, (which ultimately comes from customers), on the instructions of massive foreign energy companies, which are also spending millions (again paid for by customers) foisting their grotesque structures on our countryside. 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. It is madness, and it’s the people who will be forced to pay for it.”

 

National Grid says it listened to the concerns of the local communities before deciding the ‘red north route’ and has made a film to explain the decision process at www.nationalgrid.com/midwalesconnection.

 

You can also contact the project team directly on nationalgrid@midwalesconnection.com or call freephone 0800 019 5325.

 

National Grid will be holding a series of information events on the following days: