MP Daniel Kawczynski warns on pylon plans

Letter: Mid-Wales and Shropshire are lucky enough to be privy to some of the most stunning landscapes in Britain. These special places are a life-enhancing resource for all of us that ought to be valued.

This issue has come to a head because of the proposals to build between 600 and 800 new onshore wind turbines in mid-Wales, and a 19-acre substation and pylons to transmit this energy to the National Grid. The pylons such a project would require would devastate communities in Wales and beyond.

It is perfectly reasonable to be concerned about climate change and support renewable energy whilst objecting to improperly planned, unsuitably located wind farms.

It is of the utmost importance that the Coalition Government rebalance its renewable energy focus.

If onshore wind farms are used, they must be put in a sensible location. Electricity pylons do not simply blight the landscape. National Grid freely acknowledges that there are concerns about the potential heath effects of the electric and magnetic fields as a result of power lines.

More research is needed before they are put up and down the country, because the alternative is simply not worth the risk.

Underground cablings needs to be given open and honest consideration.

Undergrounding has been used in Europe with success.

The National Grid and wind farm developers have told us that putting cables underground would cost 15 times as much, when the Danish experience suggests that the costs are nothing like that.

Climate change presents a significant threat to the countryside in the UK, but so do huge pylons and wind turbines.

Daniel Kawczynski MP

Shrewsbury and Atcham