Bid to pull down pylons and overhead power lines impacting 'wonderful' Cotswolds landscape axed as £180m request denied

Summary

A “great opportunity” to remove miles of pylons and overhead cables which impact views of the Cotswolds has been missed as a scheme to put them underground has been axed. Ofgem has withdrawn their support for National Grid’s £180m project for underground power lines in the Cotswold National Landscape.

Details

The project aimed to reduce the visual impact of just under 4.6 miles of electricity pylons and overhead power lines on the “wonderful” landscape between Postlip Mill near Winchcombe and the edge of the Cotswold Plateau north of Dowdeswell Reservoir, by replacing them with underground cables.

The scheme would have significantly reduced the visual impact of energy infrastructure in one of England’s most iconic and protected landscapes. The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), who supported the project, say Ofgem’s decision ignores both public support for undergrounding power lines and its own duty to conserve and enhance protected landscapes.

After almost five years of consultation and investment, they see the decision as a “missed opportunity” to improve one of the UK’s most iconic and well-loved landscapes – as well as a huge waste of public money.

Simon Murray, chairman of CPRE Gloucestershire said: “CPRE recognises the cost of living pressures facing many families across the country and the need for government to spend money wisely, but this decision is another example of short-term economic arguments over-riding wider rural interests.

“The Cotswolds National Landscape is world-renowned for its beauty and draws hundreds of thousands of tourists from across the world every year. “Here was an opportunity to enhance its countryside beauty by undergrounding pylons, as other countries have done.

“As a member of the project’s national Stakeholder Advisory Group since 2014, CPRE has worked with National Grid and other partners for more than a decade to progress this scheme, which had universal support. “Many hours and a great deal of money has been wasted – and a great opportunity has been missed.” A National Grid spokesperson confirmed that the project will not be going ahead without the funding from Ofgem.

But they acknowledge Ofgem’s final decision not to fund the Cotswolds Visual Impact Provision (VIP) project. “The decision reflects Ofgem’s priority to protect consumers from unnecessary costs,” a spokesperson said. “Its view is that rejecting these proposals is in the billpayers’ best interests at a time where many are struggling with the rising cost of living.

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Report source: Gloucestershire Live