For the first time in almost 20 years National Grid is to review its approach on ‘undergrounding’ cables, rather than using overhead lines and pylons.
A significant amount of new power generation is expected to be added to the network during the next decade and the company is running a wide-ranging consultation. We've made our draft response available for members to read to the right of this page. We'd like to hear your thoughts, which should be sent to louise.staples@nfu.org.uk.
National Grid says it is often asked to consider the use of underground cables to protect the character of landscapes.
Its consultation sets out the criteria it currently takes into account and considers how technical constraints, social impact and environmental concerns are ranked.
- Read National Grid’s consultation here
- Read our draft response by clicking on the link to the right of the page (requires log-in).
- Eirian Williams - 04/05/2011
Here in Montgomeryshire we are about to be inundated with planning applications for Windfarms. There a are a number of problems with this one being the Pylons. We live on a Dairy Farm in the beautiful Vyrnwy Valley in Mid Wales we have also diversified and have two holiday cottages. If the Pylons come they will either be directly on our land or not far away - within 800 yds. The implications of this is immense for all the people in the fertile Vyrnwy Valley. Farmers will loose valuable fertile land, the health hazards whilst the power companies say are not proven are well known. The tourism industry would be destroyed not just because of the pylons but because of the years of road chaos we will have to endure to build these massive windfarms. I am not against Windfarms per say but we have several here already with 30 in the pipeline already and how many more who knows. The developers are greedy and are just interested in the huge subsidies that the government is giving - which is by the way taxpayers money. What Joe Public does not realise is that it is going to cost them hundreds of pounds a year on top of the current electricity bill for years to come. If the Government want 20% reneweable energy by 2050 they are going about it in completely the wrong way. Why are they cutting tariffs on solar - why are they not encouraging everyone to produce their own renewable energy. Why are we not following Germany's example of producing electricity where it is needed. With the number of Windfarms proposed for Montgomeryshire under the WAG's TAN 8 plan the eco system will be put under severe pressure cancelling out any carbon benefits that they may have. Why do we have to have so many in such a small area. Please be aware of what you are doing to the rest of farmers when you agree to having a windfarm on your farm - good earner but your children and your children's children will never forgive you. The implications are vast - abortions in humans and animals, lower milk yields, sickness in humans headaches, depression, childhood leukemia the list goes on plus the worst case senario would be for them to do as in the USA - compulsory purchase our home and land and a very low price. We stand to loose everything. We all need to stand together Montgomeryshire, Denbeighshire, Pembrokeshire, Cumbria, Yorkshire, Devon, Somerset - It is happening everywhere. The companies are hoping to keep it all local to one area - if they win in Montgomeryshire they will win everywhere else. Please support us.
- d s morris - 28/04/2011
Here in the fens each year there are large, less agile, flying birds [swans,geese,owls etc] that are killed by overhead cables, often causing power cuts. Positioning cables underground is probably more expensive here as there are so many watercourses and they would need to be well marked.