HAVING received a notification from National Grid regarding its proposed routes for a new 400,000 volt power line from Hinkley Point to Avonmouth, it is difficult to understand why this power line cannot be routed under the sea in the Bristol Channel.

HAVING received a notification from National Grid regarding its proposed routes for a new 400,000 volt power line from Hinkley Point to Avonmouth, it is difficult to understand why this unsightly power line cannot be routed under the sea in the Bristol Channel, as this undoubtedly is the shortest route between Hinkley Point and Avonmouth.

If this is simply not an option for either technical or engineering reasons and NOT because of any cost implications, then the existing lines should be dismantled and their route utilised for the new line, ensuring populated areas are avoided, of course.

Otherwise Nailsea will be completely encircled by ugly, hazardous power lines.

The meeting I attended at Backwell Leisure Centre a few weeks ago was so overcrowded it was extremely difficult to talk to the National Grid representatives there.

Should the power lines be routed through the valley between Nailsea & Backwell, they will be far too close to highly-populated residential areas with all the associated health and amenity problems.

They will devastate Backwell Lake's wildlife sanctuary and will also pass either through or very close to areas of land that are environmentally sensitive.

Many properties would be completely blighted and consequently devalued by these proposed overhead power lines passing through the valley and I understand that no compensation for these losses will be payable to householders, only landowners over whose land the pylons & cables would run, which seems absolutely iniquitous.

Having read and heard many differing opinions upon the dangerous nature of high-voltage power lines, there is little chance of convincing me that living within close proximity of such high voltage electro-magnetic fields isn't extremely hazardous to one's health and well-being and this is of huge concern to me and my family.

The only member of the National Grid team at Backwell tried to fob me off with platitudes in this respect, but this only served to make me even more suspicious of the danger of such cables.

This alone should be sufficient reason to abandon the proposal for overhead lines and take the opportunity to route the cables under the sea in the Bristol Channel.

After all, how does our area's main energy provider, French-owned EDF Energy, get the electricity it generates in its nuclear facilities in France to England if not under the English Channel?

It is very much hoped you will help to support the Save Our Valley campaign in its quest to persuade National Grid to see sense in this matter.

STEPHANIE FOWLER

Youngwood Lane, Nailsea.