Plaid Cymru’s Anglesey Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth has urged the island’s residents to express their opposition to National Grid’s proposed North Wales Connection to UK Government’s Planning Inspectorate before the deadline on November 29th.
The Ynys Môn AM’s office is hosting six events by the ‘Anglesey says No to Pylons group’ as the Planning Inspectorate’s deadline approaches, where the group will be on hand to help individuals register their views regarding the proposed pylon development.
Grid’s plans would involve building 100 new pylons spanning Anglesey, as well as a tunnel mooted to take electricity cables under the Menai Strait.
Mr ap Iorwerth has been a vocal campaigner against both a new row of pylons and the costly tunnel option.
He supports an undergrounding or under-sea option, and argues that £200-£300m for the tunnel would be better spent on placing cables on a new Menai crossing, subsidising the dualling of the Britannia Bridge.
Mr ap Iorwerth said:
“National Grid must not be allowed to sell Anglesey short by erecting a new line of pylons across Ynys Môn. Grid wants to make this electricity connection on the cheap – but their plans would cost the island dearly in terms of the natural and visual environment, tourism and property prices.
“The Assembly has spoken with one voice on this, as have the people of Anglesey and all its elected representatives, and it’s time for Grid to listen. I’ve offered my office to Anglesey says No to Pylons, as they seek to help people express their views regarding the pylons. If you want to make your voice heard, come to my office and the group will be on hand to help you do that.
“We must also continue to impress on National Grid the need to incorporate the new North Wales Connection into the new bridge development, instead of progressing their very costly tunnelling option.
“Only last month, Welsh Government told me that they are in constructive discussions with Grid, and it is imperative now that pressure is kept on them to ensure a feasibility study is conducted as soon as possible on utilising the new bridge to carry cables.”
The ‘Anglesey says No to Pylons’ group will be making use of Rhun ap Iorwerth’s office between 10am and 4pm on the following dates: Friday November 9th, Friday November 16th, Wednesday November 21st, Wednesday November 28th and Thursday November 29th.
