Protesters who are campaigning against a controversial 37-mile line of proposed power pylons running through the Burnham-On-Sea area have this week welcomed a study that has found electricity customers would be willing to pay a little extra on their bills in order to fund the cost of burying the power lines underground.
An independent report commissioned by National Grid has found that 80 per cent of the 1,000 people surveyed would be willing to pay something extra to bury power cables.
National Grid has stated that the cost of burying the entire Hinkley C connector route would be less than £1 per year on customers’ power bills.
Details of the exact route of the proposed 400,000 volt power line, running from Hinkley Point to Avonmouth, is due to be announced by National Grid on Tuesday (November 6th).
Paul Hipwell from campaign group No Moor Pylons told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Local people fully understand that burying power cables will cost more but it’s a price they are very willing to pay to protect the beautiful Somerset countryside for future generations to enjoy.”
“National Grid should take note of its own research and recognise that people are willing to pay to protect the countryside. National Grid has consistently said it would cost too much to underground the cables and people would not be willing to pay. Now their own report refutes these claims. National Grid should listen to what customers are saying and bury the entire route.”
National Grid has told consultees that they would consider putting power cables underground only in the most sensitive areas of the route.
Pictured: Top, Local resident Alan Sealey holding a protest sign at a pylons campaign event earlier this year
