During an Assembly debate yesterday on National Grid Cables, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood raised community concerns regarding the Grid’s pylon plans on Anglesey.

Mr Isherwood intervened during the debate to highlight issues raised by One Voice Wales Anglesey Pylon Committee regarding the pylon option for the island.

Addressing Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth, Mr Isherwood said:

“As you know, we both attended a ‘no to pylons’ meeting on Anglesey in December 2015.  Do you share my concern that, although the National Grid told me that they’re paid whether they put pylons over or under ground but Ofgem require best value for the customer, the One Voice Wales Anglesey Pylon Committee, who have written to Members on their response to the National Grid consultation, say the Grid has declared, since 2012, that the pylon option has been chosen on the basis of cost alone, and that the pylon option brings only negative impacts to the sustainability of small and medium-sized businesses in tourism and agriculture on the island?”

The AM replied:

“You’re certainly right, I agree, and Ofgem is key. It’s crucial that we move, as we’re hopefully going to be doing in the Assembly today, to a situation where there is an assumption in favour, through Ofgem allowing that, of undergrounding.”

Mr Isherwood added: “The Committee, which represents 38 town and community councils on the island, has consistently highlighted what they say are flaws in the consultation process. More pylons, they say, will have an environmental impact as well as damage the island’s tourism industry. It is crucial that their views are properly heard.”