Jane Dodds is calling for power cables in Mid Wales to be placed underground where possible, to protect the countryside.
The Mid and West Wales MS said at the Senedd that it’s important that Wales had a planning policy that's fit for purpose for now and the future.
She said that policy should include an “absolute assumption” that cables should be run underground whenever possible.
Video from Senedd.tv
The Mid and West Wales MS said at the Senedd that it’s important that Wales had a planning policy that's fit for purpose for now and the future.
She said that policy should include an “absolute assumption” that cables should be run underground whenever possible.
Video from Senedd.tv
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00:00They will be undertaking the kind of investigations that you are proposing.
00:06Jane Dodds.
00:07Jane Dodds AM.
00:08Good afternoon, Prif Weinidog.
00:10I just want to follow up on both of those points, if that's okay.
00:14It's really important that we have a planning policy that's fit for purpose not just for
00:17now but for the future, so a planning policy which has within it an absolute assumption
00:24that the underground lines are absolutely placed underground and that there is an exception
00:30if they can't be placed underground.
00:32The second thing is around the cost, and I just wonder if the Welsh Government is open
00:37to considering doing an economic assessment around the costs for undergrounding versus
00:44that for the pylons at the moment, including what that looks like for the future of our
00:50communities in relation to that visual impact.
00:54Because once those pylons are up, they will scar the landscape for the rest of our time,
00:59but undergrounding means that they cannot be seen and that our beautiful countryside
01:03stays as it is.
01:04So, will the Welsh Government consider doing an economic impact assessment looking at those
01:10options for the future?
01:12Diolch yn fawr iawn.
01:13Julie James AM.
01:14Diolch yn fawr iawn.
01:15That's precisely what the independent grid group is looking at in looking at the cost
01:20benefit analysis.
01:21So, I think we've got to be clear that there are costs to putting it underground as well.
01:26So, if there's a problem, for example, in the grid, it could take a lot longer, and
01:31I mean weeks rather than days, to fix.
01:34So, it's not a one-way issue here.
01:37There are other things that we have to consider, and, as I say, I think we have got to bear
01:43in mind that energy costs are already high.
01:46If you underground where the costs are likely to be higher, then they will be passed on
01:52to the consumer, and I just think we've got to be absolutely clear about that at a time
01:57when people are fearful about the amount they have to pay.
02:00So, there's a balance to strike here, which is why that independent grid group is really
02:05important.
02:06We'll wait for their recommendations towards the end of March.