MP Tessa Munt in pylon protest (From Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News)

MP Tessa Munt in pylon protest

11:10am Saturday 20th October 2012 in News By Andrew McGill

BURNHAM and Highbridge MP Tessa Munt has restated her opposition to plans to build electricity pylons near the towns.

Ms Munt said she has discussed underground cabling with representatives of the Greenwire project.

She said: “I am committed to finding alternatives to the unpopular National Grid plan to erect pylons across the Somerset countryside.

“The Greenwire project shows it is possible to use both underground and underwater methods to revamp our crumbling energy infrastructure.

“We should not have to revert to 1920s technology which is destroying communities and our countryside.”

Greenwire is one the largest onshore energy projects in the EU and proposes using high voltage direct current cables, which reduce the amount of electricity lost and are more easily buried.

National Grid is considering putting up 37 miles of pylons in a ‘route corridor’, linking Hinkley Point C with Avonmouth.

The planned route runs past Burnham, near the village of Mark, East Huntspill, Chapel Allerton and from Watchfield to Avonmouth.

A consultation on the plan ended in the summer but National Grid says it will still take views before submitting plans next year.

A spokesman said: “Hearing views on where people play sport or walk their dogs or favourite views will help shape our plans.”

To comment on the proposals visit hinkleyconnection.co.uk or call freephone 0800 377 7347.