PLANS for National Grid to erect a 37- mile line of giant pylons through Sedgemoor prompted angry reactions from local communities.

The utility company intends to install the pylons along a new route to carry electricity from Hinkley Point C to Avonmouth.

The plans mean the current pylons carrying electricity will be removed and the new larger structures installed on a shorter route passing through Woolav-ington, East Huntspill and Mark.

At the meeting with the planning inspectorate held in Mark village hall, angry residents argued that the new pylons would reduce the value of homes, disrupt businesses and blight the coutnrysuide.

Cllr Eileen Corkish of Mark parish council said: “We do not want to have pylons through the village.

They should be subsea or underground along a redefined route. It will affect people, their lives, businesses and homes.

It will affect the visual impact of land across the Somerset levels. “Pylons are a 20th Century problem. We are now approaching the middle of the 21st century and National Grid are still deciding to put these pylons in when there are other solutions available.”

Sedgemoor District Council has also made clear its disappointment over the low level of community mitigation offered by National Grid.

Council bosses feel that if the pylons do need to be installed then National Grid should offer some benefit to the communnities affected.

A spokesperson for Sedgemoor District Council said: “Firstly, after almost five years of consulations and negotions for communities that have large pylons dominating their landscape, there is still not a national framework to receive community benefit.

“Secondly, National Grid is offering very little in the way of planning mitigation, despite Sedgemoor District Council negotiating for several years on behalf of the affected parishes with National Grid’s ‘offer’ diminishing each year.”

The council says it has committed up to £50,000 to fund legal and technical support at the examination process and also gave notice to National Grid that a failure on their part in not appreciating the role of local communities would trigger a national campaign including a Prime Ministerial petition.