150ft Pylons planned for Somerset

28 January 2010, 12:16 | Updated: 3 February 2010, 10:44

The consultation period for the controversial plans from National Grid for 37 miles of 150ft pylons across the Somerset Levels ended on Friday 22nd January.

If the building of the Hinkley C nuclear power station finally goes ahead National Grid will need to build a new 37-mile 400,000 volt overhead pylon line between Hinkley Point near Bridgwater and a substation in Avonmouth to carry the electricity generated by what will be one of the largest single generators in the UK's high voltage system.

They'd be constructed in 2016 at a cost of approximately £2 million per mile.

National Grid say "Electricity is an essential part of our lives and the line will play a key role in helping to meet the demand for power.

Many residents in villages across the levels along the 37 mile route have been protesting against the plans demanding to know why an existing line of plyons can not be up graded to take the new cable or why it cant run along the route of the motorway.  One of the groups "No Moor Plyons"  have been holding a series of public meetings.