Put power lines underground
Vast swathes of the British countryside are set to be blighted by hundred's of super-pylons needed to carry electricity from offshore windfarms to the National Grid.
Cherished views of outstanding national beauty from the Lake District to Snowdonia to Suffolk and Somerset will be scarred by National Grid's intention to build nearly 1000 of the 160ft pylons.
Pylons are technology that dates from the 1960's and should be obsolete like typewriters. The UK is changing to renewable electricity generation but has no plans to change transmission technology. This is madness. All new power lines should go underground. The extra cost is very small about £10 per household for all the new power lines planned. We must protect our countryside for future generations and avoid the health risks of electromagnetic radiation.
Vote to put power lines underground.
Paul
shared this idea
388 comments
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Mark Vine
commented
Wi/Win situation. The countryside gets more beautiful and .... lots of work for archaeologists who will be required to watch every inch of what's being dug up, which will enhance our knowledge of the past.
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Candia McKormack commented
Protect both our countryside AND the nation's health and put the power lines underground. The alternative is quite simply unacceptable
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Pixie
commented
Recommend this very readable report from Greenpeace which demonstrates how moving away from super-pylons to a European-wide smart grid linking renewable energy sources across a wide region is not only possible but makes sense:
www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/reports/Battle-of-the-grids/
"Today, Europe’s electricity grid is characterised by big, polluting power stations pumping out constant energy, regardless of consumer need, along a wasteful, aging A/C (alternating current) network. The patchwork of national grids stitched together over the years is an uncomfortable, uneconomical fit....
This groundbreaking report demonstrates...that Europe is capable of moving smoothly to a system that delivers nearly 100 percent renewable power around the clock." -
MFPA
commented
The wealthy politicians who collude in this environmental vandalism should be made to pay from their personal fortunes for the damage to be repaired.
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John Graham
commented
The Beauly Denny Line was passed despite the many thousands of objectors. The Ministers report was spineless in the extreme. Not one metre of the line was underground despite large parts of it passing through the Caingorm National Park, by Battlefields and within close proximity to the Wallace memorial. He meeklu asked SSE to use what mitagation they could. Needless to say they totally ignored him. Democracy, I don't think so!
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Tim
commented
I share the same concerns as Rosa, but if the Risk's of electromagnetic radiation are not "significantly substantial" then this seems like a great Idea.
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Rosa
commented
As an environmental scientist I am concerned about the potential human health impacts from electromagnetic radiation from these pylons - undersea would be best unless it can be proven beyond doubt that they are safe. There are some studies suggesting a link between electromagnetic radiation and miscarriages, electrosensitivity e.g. migraines, headaches, tinnitus in humans... Under the European precautionary principle, if there is a risk from a hazard it should be avoided unless it can be proven beyond doubt that there is no risk. At the least there should be a buffer zone around pylons of at least 50 m. I need to hear the research on underground cables, but I suspect that the radiation risk is still there if they are underground - it's just that they are out of sight, out of mind like so many things - toxic pesticides, nuclear power, landfill sites, sewage works...!
Of course we need to preserve the countryside for future generations, and I feel sorry for people who have bought a house with a view of a proposed power line - it seems so unfair to have your house price slashed with no compensation for it.
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Anthony Butcher commented
I can't believe that they are even contemplating a new swathe of pylons. Let's keep the North Somerset countryside intact please!
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Naomi
commented
I object to these new mega pylons destroying the appearance of our beautiful landscape which is our responsibility to protect for future generations plus the possible long term health issues that these pylons can cause to those living within the vicinity of them. Surely it is worth £10 per household to avoid this happening by positioning the power lines underground.
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Roy .H.Stephens
commented
It is so important to put the power line underground to save lives and very serious health problems to young and old for future Centuires to come .
Although probabaly a little more expensive the cost would be well worth it and recovered by much lower maintenance costs with savings made for repairs to overhead lines such as occured during the most recent Cold and Snowfalls experienced this year. -
Sarah Peel
commented
Why not ask Barclay's to foot the extra bill? Seems they've enough profit...
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Jenny Campbell commented
Underground or subsea is the only option.
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Pauline
commented
Underground or undersea has got to be the modern option. The technology is available and should be used.
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G Hunter
commented
The cables must be laid underground/undersea. Why spoil this beautiful countryside with even more archaic metal structures? Don't be selfish, preserve this landscape and the wildlife that comes with it for our future generations to enjoy.
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JAM
commented
UNDERGROUND for CABLES
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Frances
commented
Please put the cables underground. Views affect so many, so much of the time.
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David Brown
commented
Do not put the cable undergroud! Ecology over views
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Joan Thompson
commented
Please do not spoil our beautiful Somerset Levels by putting more pylons across them. I am also very concerned about the health issues pylons impose.
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Jilly
commented
Not onlu offshore wind farms. The effetc of power lines is going to be devastating across vast areas of Mid Wales - especially Montgomeryshire. Also this should not be restricted to designated National parks and AONBs. Due to the vagaries of our 'classification' system there are huge tracts of wonderful countryside without a designation but more than worthy of saving and giving pleasure to thousands of people every year.
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Lauren Woodcock
commented
2011... hello.
Bury cables and dont inflict 1950's technolgy on my generation and the next to come.
