HomeNewsFiercely-opposed Hinkley power line plans are formally submitted

Fiercely-opposed Hinkley power line plans are formally submitted

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Plans to install a new power line running between Hinkley Point near Burnham-On-Sea and Avonmouth have been submitted this week.

The grid connection will see 30 miles of overhead wires carried on pylons through the Burnham area and a five-mile section buried under the Mendip hills.

Those opposed to the pylons, including those in local villages affected such as Mark, have called for more of the route to be buried.

From Thursday the Planning Inspectorate has 28 days to decide whether the application will go forward to a panel of inspectors.

If the plans are accepted for examination then the documents will become public.

A final decision will not be made until late 2015.

A National Grid spokesman said it has submitted the application following five years of consultation.

“When planning this connection, we have been careful to strike a balance between everything we’ve been told, the guidelines we have to follow and the engineering needed to keep the lights on,” he said.

“And, although the new pylons would be bigger than the existing ones, overall there would be 100 fewer pylons than there currently are in the landscape,” he added.

The proposed route would connect the power station to the National Grid’s 400,000 volt substation at Avonmouth.

Those against the pylons argue the entire route should be underground or sub-sea – but National Grid had previously said this option would be too expensive.

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