Drakeford: Undergound cables ‘where possible’ in Montgomeryshire

Montgomeryshire anti-pylon campaigners can take heart from a response in the Senedd by First Minister Mark Drakeford when asked about underground cables.

A number of huge windfarms are to be considered by the Welsh Government across our area, and planners want to erect miles of pylons and poles that will carry the power generated to the National Grid.

But campaigners are digging in for a campaign to oppose the plans, which they say will blight our pristine landscape.

But last night, local Plaid Cymru General Election candidate Elwyn Vaughan shared with us a response that had been given by Mr Drakeford to a question from Plaid Member of the Senedd, Cefin Campbell.

Mr Campbell asked: “I know that you can't comment on any specific applications, but we already know that the Government’s policy is to underground cabling wherever possible.

“This is good practice in nations such as Germany, Denmark and so on, where cable ploughing is possible, which can bury over a kilometre of cables per day, which is far less damaging to the environment and is more cost-effective in terms of transmitting energy.

“So, can I ask you, First Minister, could this cable ploughing be the default process rather than an option in areas of outstanding beauty, or even across the whole of Wales?”

Mr Drakeford said in in response: “Thank you very much to Cefin Campbell for those questions. I can agree with what he said to begin with. Creating a pathway to a future where the grid will be able to do what we want the grid to do is crucial for us in Wales in the context of renewable energy.

“We’ve done a great deal of work as a Government to assist and facilitate that process, but there is a great deal of work still to do.

“The UK Government will have to be a part of that work. As Cefin Campbell said, we have a policy already. I have read what the Minister for Climate Change said to the Member on February 8, 2023. Julie James said clearly: ‘The policy is that electricity transmission cables should be placed underground where possible, not just in designated landscapes, but where possible’.

“I have also read what has been done in other nations to create new ways of putting electricity lines underground. I know that the Minister is aware of those developments too, and she’s considering whether there are new possibilities for us to implement our policy.”

Yesterday, we reported that Powys County Council will be debating the issue tomorrow (Thursday) with a motion tabled to lobby the Welsh Government for underground cabling.