Pylon fight turns nasty

In what could be a shocking sign of things to come, residents on a proposed pylon route claim to have been bullied by bailiffs delivering land access orders over the past few days.

In a worrying development to what has been a peaceful protest against multi-million pound energy plans that would see a pylon route carve a path through Montgomeryshire, one land owner even claimed he was told to “f*** off” after asking to see the ID cards of bailiffs enforcing access orders for land surveys to take place.

And it has prompted an angry community council to say it is liaising with police and one councillor to claim they have “sent in the thugs”.

 “It is very disturbing - shocking even,” said local MP Glyn Davies who has been receiving complaints from Llansantffraid residents.

“Bailiffs acting for National Grid had delivered a notice of forced access, and when challenged for ID, had told my constituent to “f*** off”. Now another constituent has told me of other similar incidents, including seriously upsetting his 86-year-old female neighbour. She has now been advised to cooperate for her own welfare by my constituent.

“This shameful behaviour done on behalf of National Grid and within arrangements approved by the Government is scarcely believable.”

Llansantffraid councillor Digby Davies said the incidents had strengthened the community’s resolve and that the council meeting last night was united in condemning the actions.

“It is disgraceful behaviour,” said Mr Davies. “It has left a lot of residents feeling shocked and disturbed.”

The National Grid is currently accessing land to finalise a pylon route that will relay power generated by proposed windfarms in the west of Montgomeryshire to the National Grid connection in Shropshire, via a substation in Cefn Coch.

A spokesperson for National Grid told us: “We’re aware of the complaint that has been made about our work and are investigating it. We understand people’s concerns regarding our proposals, which is why we’re working hard to request access to land and carry out surveys with the minimum of disruption and inconvenience to landowners. All of our staff know it’s important to be sensitive to landowners' concerns and be professional and polite when undertaking their work.”

Below is the text of a letter being sent today by Llansantffraid Community Council to the National Grid.                                                                

Dear Sir,

This letter is further to the enclosed letter of today’s date re the failure of National Grid to inform and consult with our community regarding the proposed power line and pylons with which our community has been threatened.

We in this Community Council have been shocked and disturbed by the reports which have reached us in the last few days of outrageous and disgraceful behaviour on the part of bailiffs acting for National Grid’s solicitors Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) who are dealing with local landowners and seeking to gain access on your behalf to enable your surveyors Bruton Knowles to carry out surveys for your proposed power line and pylons in Llansantffraid.

It is completely unacceptable that members of our community should be subjected to obscenities, vile gestures and generally made to feel threatened.

In one specific case – that of County Councillor Gwynfor Thomas – details have already been supplied by a solicitor acting for the local Alliance in the forthcoming Conjoined Public Inquiry to BLP. Cllr. Thomas is awaiting an explanation and an apology.

We are making this information available to the local and national press and we have already informed our political representatives, including Glyn Davies our MP.

Other cases have been reported to us, including that of an 86-year-old widow who has been deeply upset and traumatised by her experience. She is one of three cases known to us in Llansantffraid; there may well be others, where reports have already been made to the police and statements taken.

The actions of these people acting for you through your solicitors are making an already fraught situation worse. Local feelings are running high. It is impossible to envisage a situation where a public meeting could be held with National Grid representatives at present.

If you were sincere in wishing genuinely to engage with our community you would be conducting your business differently.

Yours

D. Williams, Chairman, Llansantffraid Community Council