Welshpool cable route could get go ahead

 

While all attention has been diverted lately to the Mid Wales Connection project set to run through the Dyfi Valley, the Severn Valley is subject to an application from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) for a 35km cable to run through.

 

The council has been asked to make a recommendation to the DECC by October 31, and if it gets the go ahead, 394 wooden 14-metre poles will carry the cables through the countryside.

 

A council insider told us: “The main options available to the Council are that it advices DECC that it has no objections, either subject to conditions or not, or that it objects. The Council has the ability to trigger a Public Inquiry should it indeed object.

 

“The Council is a key consultee in this process and has a primary role to play as it represents the local community and is familiar with the planning requirements of the locality. The County Council has undertaken the local consultation process on behalf of DECC. This means that whilst it has been made clear that all correspondence needs to be sent to DECC, there have been representations received by the County Council which have been sent on to DECC and vice versa.”

 

The Countryside Council for Wales objects to the new route, as have Montgomery Town Council and Kerry Community Council with other councils en route putting their concerns and objections in writing to Powys. A total of 162 objections have been received by the council.

 

The cabinet meeting takes place at 3pm at the Council HQ in Llandrindod Wells.

 

The route exits the Bryn Dadlau substation and heads in a broad east to northeasterly direction, crossing the A483 and traversing across the northern side of Kerry Hill. Just north of Block Wood, it swings to a more northerly alignment, passing to the east of Pentre and Saw Mill and crossing the A489 just to the west of Glanmule. The route then continues northwards, dropping down into the Afon Mule Valley before rising up again to cross farmland between Abermule and Llandyssil. West of Montgomery, it descends to the edge of the Severn Valley, where it converges on the B4385 and the railway line. It continues to parallel the south side of the latter, crossing the low lying fields of the Afon Camlad Valley before rising up again and following the eastern side of the Severn Valley. Passing to the west of Forden and Leighton Hall, the route then crosses the A490 before entering the Welshpool substation.