NATIONAL Grid has agreed to attend public meetings in Abermule and Cefn Coch before announcing their preferred site for a 20-acre substation.
Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies wrote to National Grid during the festive break to ask them to attend the meeting, and on Tuesday of this week they wrote back to accept his invitation.
The date of the meeting is not known but they are expected to take place before the energy company announces the village where they propose building a 20-acre electricity substation.
If they announced Abermule as the preferred location then the Severn Valley will see hundreds of pylons built across it; if Cefn Coch is opted for then the pylons will run into Shropshire along the Vyrnwy Valley.
MP Glyn Davies said: “I am pleased that National Grid is willing to come to public meetings in Montgomeryshire to explain their proposals and answer questions.
“There are very strong feelings running through our community and it is absolutely right that the people have their say. I am looking forward to finalising dates and locations over the next few days.
“We are still expecting an announcement from National Grid about their preferred plans for Mid Wales within the next two or three months – so I hope the public meetings can be held as soon as possible.
“My opposition to the Mid Wales Connection Project is implacable, and that will not change, but I do hope to chair the meetings – if I'm not committed to Westminster – and would do so as fairly and independently as possible.
“The truth is that National Grid has a statutory obligation to respond to demand from energy companies which require a grid connection and the windfarm companies themselves are responding to Government stimulus.
“The real drivers of the policy to cover our area in turbines and pylons are politicians – the Welsh Government and the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
“I am grateful to National Grid for agreeing to meet the public.”