Campaigner ready for latest battle to stop pylons
The owner of a popular canal-side inn is going into battle again to stop electricity pylons from being built nearby.Green GEN Cymru is seeking to run power lines almost 50km (31 miles) from Cefn Coch in Powys to connect with the National Grid at Lower Frankton in Shropshire.But it has faced opposition from people, including Mark Baggett, the co-owner of the Navigation Inn at Maesbury Marsh.He successfully fought off a previous attempt to build pylons through the area and said the power cables should either run through Wales or run underground.
In 2014, his pub became a focal point for what he said was a "very, very vocal" campaign against pylons, with information boards up in the pub.He even renamed it the "Pylon Inn" for a day to raise awareness.Speaking about the new plans, Mr Baggett said: "It's not fair that the proposals that come from Wales are not considering taking the power through their own country."We haven't got big mountains where you can hide things," he added.Owen Llewellyn Jones from Green Gen Cymru has been involved in running a series of consultation events to explain the plans.He said the pylons would be smaller than the ones previously proposed, with an average height of 28.5m (94ft).He also promised to listen to people's views and said the plans had already been adapted to take feedback on board and had been moved away from communities such as Pant and Crickheath in Shropshire.But he conceded: "This is a large infrastructure coming through parts of the country."This is not going to be an exercise where everybody's happy."He also said running the entire route underground would cost five times as much, and those costs would ultimately be passed on to the consumer.
Mr Baggett said his pub was in "an extremely beautiful part of the country", and he wanted to keep it that way.He said he worried for businesses, like a nearby wedding venue, and said pylons would "ruin the view" for wedding guests wanting to take photographs.Mr Baggett said he and his fellow objectors were not so-called Nimbys - Not in My Back Yard - but wanted the alternatives properly looked at.Consultation on the plans were due to continue until mid-April, and a planning application was then expected next year.If approved, work would start in 2027 and be completed by 2029.
Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
28-05-2025
- Wales Online
Welsh Government told to look to 'Victorians' for rail network improvements
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The Welsh Government has unveiled a bold strategy to revolutionise rail services across North Wales – plans that have been met with enthusiasm by some and labelled as "pie in the sky" by critics. Initiatives include "quick wins" that are expected within the next year, such as boosting Transport for Wales capacity on the North Wales line and establishing a direct Llandudno to Liverpool service. North Wales Live readers are mainly of the opinion that they will believe it when they see it. Transforming the network into something truly game-changing will need more time and far more financial support, especially from the UK Government who oversee the rail infrastructure. Successive UK administrations have been criticised for not investing enough in Welsh railways, especially when compared to English regions. Beyond electrification, several challenges must be addressed before any progress can be made. A notable example is Chester, located just over the border; despite serving as a major junction, it lacks the platform capacity of stations like Crewe, leading to severe bottlenecks that affect services in North Wales. Congestion on existing rail lines, particularly at the Padeswood cement plant on the Wrexham - Bidston line, appears to be a bottleneck that might be resolved within the next three years. Unblocking this would enable more frequent services. Achieving a direct service from Wrexham to Liverpool calls for a distinct approach as outlined by the Transport Secretary: "In order to achieve that ultimate ambition we would have to upgrade signalling along the line and also utilise the latest train technology, like electric trains that are battery operated. That's the sort of technology we want to utilise. You can't take diesel through the tunnel." Clearing these bottlenecks will do wonders for services to and from North Wales, but only time will tell if there's the political will - and most importantly the money - to make this happen. Commenter Alwyn67 says: 'It seems like we are held back by so much Victorian era infrastructure in the UK. Adding new platforms is incredibly expensive. The Chinese have it right - just blow it up and start again. Hopefully the tram-train as in Cardiff Bay might be a future for cities like Chester/Wrexham.' DavidSmithmeister replies: 'If only it was a bit more Victorian - in the sense of the sheer comprehensive coverage of the network, practically every settlement from a few hundred people up was served, and far more resilience to faults due to far wider scope for service diversion. The system we have today is paltry and embarrassingly pared-back.' Garrog remembers: 'About 15 years ago there were proposals to re-introduce the passing loops on the Conwy Valley Line to enable more trains on the line. However, the local NIMBYS objected as it was tied to slate being transported by rail as well. Instead we are left with a single train on a shuttle service back and forth from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog that no one uses due to the poor service timings.' Hamol adds: 'And also the line gets closed for weeks after every storm when the track is washed away.' Toxteth O'Grady suggests: 'How about more carriages on busy weekends? I've seen trains absolutely rammed with people going to Chester on a Saturday and yet several empty carriages on weekdays when people are at work.' Thewokearefastasleep retorts: 'So buy more carriages for the weekends that will lie empty during the week because the existing ones are under used as it is? It will mean more drivers for additional services, but who will only work weekends unless more people use the train throughout the week. These schemes are a recipe for financial failure, people don't use the trains because they are too expensive. It's alright wanting more tourists to travel from Liverpool to Llandudno - but how much will that cost a couple or a family of four compared to the cost of petrol to drive 60 miles each way?' Steamnut points out: 'An easy starting point which could be implemented next week, and for little money, would be to put longer trains on the Chester-Holyhead route. The trains are always rammed and surely, a lot of people do not use the service because of this?' Hollyhead explains: 'You can't just stick extra coaches on as this affects the stopping pattern and station access. The need to extend platforms is more important before you extend trains, and that's just not possible at some high usage smaller stations. What's needed is a higher frequency pick up service, feeding into hub points, but you can't do that at Llandudno junction which is the usual interchange station. TFW needs to put more loco hauled trains on stopping at just Bangor, junction, Rhyl and Chester as these have long platforms. Longer short journey stoppers could feed into those stations.' AngelaJones thinks: 'You won't get people out of their cars, the trains are too expensive and unreliable. Wrexham Bidston for example, hardly any one uses it.' Do you think the Welsh rail network needs updating? Will these new plans help? Have your say in our comments section.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Daily Mail
US private equity giant KKR ready to inject £4bn into ailing Thames Water
Private equity behemoth KKR is prepared to control ailing utility Thames Water for a decade to repair the disgraced firm's fortunes and reputation. It is also understood that, as part of a rescue package being put together by Thames Water chairman Adrian Montague, New York-based KKR is preparing to pump £4 billion in equity and loans into the business. Britain's largest water company, which supplies 25 per cent of the country's water, is regarded as a national disgrace. It has an appalling pollution record and only avoided financial collapse by taking on a £3 billion emergency loan. KKR aims to inject Thames Water into an infrastructure fund, ending years of complex ownership that has seen billions of pounds flow overseas in dividends and interest payments. Thames Water's top brass found themselves in the headlines last week after it was revealed that executives could receive large bonuses under the rescue plan. But the group promised to 'pause' these payouts after the intervention of the Government following heated Parliamentary hearings. KKR has not been directly involved in the bonus row. But it is thought to believe that if executives are in charge of £20 billion of capital expenditure – and they make it 5 per cent more efficient – that's £1 billion, of which a bonus of £500,000 is a tiny proportion. Thames Water is also competing with other utilities such as National Grid and Centrica, owner of British Gas, to attract the best managers and thus needs to provide pay awards of a similar level. The private equity group hopes that by working around the clock with Thames Water, its debt holders and industry regulator Ofwat, it can put together a credible rescue package by the end of July. Most of the negotiations with the authorities have been conducted with Ofwat, which has agreed to a huge 30 per cent price increase in household bills, seen as necessary to meet investment targets. But stewardship of Thames Water is thought to be a bid by KKR to repair its own reputation too. The private equity group recognises it has an image problem dating back to its role in the infamous 1988 takeover of US food and tobacco group RJR Nabisco. Its goal at Thames Water is to improve service levels, its environmental impact and create sustainable cashflows. It also intends to eventually return the firm to the UK stock market. The private equity group is aiming to reduce borrowing at Thames and is pledging not to pay any dividends until the finances are repaired. Thames Water's borrowings stand at 88 per cent of its assets, which Ofwat considers unsustainably high.
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
I've cut my energy bills to nothing and set to earn £600 this year – a little-known scheme could help you do it too
Judith is set to earn £2,300 a year from her solar panels - but her bill is estimated to be £1,700 annually BRIGHT SPARK I've cut my energy bills to nothing and set to earn £600 this year – a little-known scheme could help you do it too SAVVY homeowners can save thousands of pounds on energy bills without cutting down on usage, thanks to a clever scheme. Judith Leary-Joyce, 75, not only saves but actually makes money through this home improvement and green energy initiative. Advertisement 2 Judith Leary-Joyce has cut her energy bills to almost zero Credit: Supplied 2 Judith's end of terrace home now has solar panels Credit: Supplied She had a 'deep retrofit' on the Victorian end-of-terrace in St Albans, Hertfordshire she has shared with husband John, for more than 47 years. As part of the makeover to improve the property's energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, the couple had two sets of solar panels installed. This has saved more than £1,000 a year on their annual energy bill, plus 'earns' them cash by exporting surplus electricity generated. It comes after the average energy bill jumped up to £1,849 a year last month. Advertisement Judith, author of Beginner's Guide to Eco Renovation and blog told The Sun: 'Solar panels may cost a lot upfront, but over time, you will recoup the cost.' The couple got their first eight panels installed in September 2021 at a cost of around £6,000. A few years later, in October 2024, they got a further 10 panels installed for £14,300 – and this included a battery. With a battery storage system, energy from the solar panels is stored to provide power irrespective of the weather or the time of day. Advertisement 'The decision to get solar panels was primarily down to me really caring about the planet,' said Judith. 'But at the same time, I like the idea of saving a shedload of money, too.' What is the energy price cap? Finding an installer was relatively straightforward, according to the energy-saving whizz, though she recommends speaking to friends for recommendations. She also suggests getting three or four quotes. Advertisement 'Our house faces east-west, so we decided to put as many panels on the roof as we could fit in the space,' said Judith. 'In the first installation, we got five on the front of the roof and three on the back.' The couple then got an additional 10 panels installed a few years later after building a large garden room extension with a south-facing roof. Thanks to this – and the retrofit – Judith and John have been able to get rid of gas altogether, considerably lowering their energy bills. Advertisement In addition to this, it's possible to 'earn' money from having solar panels by selling or exporting energy back to the National Grid. Judith said: 'It was only in October last year that we went onto the tariff that pays us for exporting electricity generated. "The amount we earn will, of course, vary, according to the time of year.' In March this year, the household used 550 kWh (kilowatt hours) of energy – and generated 501 kWh, according to Judith. Advertisement 'As a result, we paid just £22.72 to Octopus Energy, our energy supplier, that month,' said Judith. As the days have become longer and sunnier, the couple have made more energy than they have used meaning they have been able to export £300 worth back to the National Grid. On summer days, Judith reckons her solar panels will mean she has to pay 'next to nothing.' She added: 'I anticipate we will be pretty much self-sufficient over the coming months.' Advertisement With big savings up for grabs, the solar panels are a win for Judith and John. 'According to Octopus, our annual energy consumption as a household is around £1,700,' said Judith. 'However, thanks to the 'export', we will make a very healthy £2,300 worth of energy over the year. This means we'll be 'quids in' – earning around £600 more than we're paying out for the year.' Advertisement Actual savings will depend on what happens to energy prices and the specific earnings will depend on the weather. How much do solar panels cost? You need to be aware that the initial outlay for solar panels is high. If you are thinking about getting panels installed, you need to view this as a long-term investment. Solar panels are usually fitted on to the roof to absorb the sun's rays and turning them into electricity to power your home. The position and size of your property determines how many panels you can get - and the overall cost. Advertisement However, the average home can expect around ten solar panels which is a typical investment of around £5,000-£6,000, according to energy firm Ovo. Surplus energy produced can be sold back to the grid. If you want to store extra energy, you'll need to invest in a battery, costing another £5,000 on average. The amount you sell energy, depends on your provider. Advertisement As a guide, you may be able to recoup the cost of installation in as little as five to seven years – though in some cases it will take longer. Judith says her solar is due to be paid back through savings in six years Earlier this month, we reported how thousands of homes could qualify for free solar panel grants. Judith said: 'For me, there's no two ways about it, I love my solar panels – not least because I know we're making energy from the sun. Advertisement "When it's sunny, I love looking at my smart meter and thinking that we can essentially use the washing machine – and other appliances – more or less for free.' The rate of solar panels installations on UK homes was up 40.7% in March, from the same period last year, according to analysis from Coventry building society. More than 17,000 solar panels were installed on UK homes in March, a jump from the 12,168 installations during March 2024. To get an idea on how much you could potentially save by getting panels installed, check out the free calculator from the Energy Saving Trust. Advertisement Other ways to save money on bills Solar panels are just one of a wide range of energy-efficient measures that Judith has put in place. 'We got a lot of 'green' improvements done during Covid in 2020,' she said. 'John and I spent many months living in a cramped corner of an extremely dusty room.' The couple added more insulation to the loft and external walls. Advertisement They also installed insulation under the suspended floors themselves – before calling in the experts to put in under-floor heating. At the same time, the pair have taken a number of steps to cut out draughts. Some of the more costly measures the couple have invested in include triple glazing and an air source heat pump. 'All the windows on the extension are triple glazed,' said Judith. Advertisement 'We also paid around £13,000 four years ago for a heat pump – though we did take advantage of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to bring the cost down to £5,500.' This scheme provides homeowners with up to £7,500 to install heat pumps and other green technologies. Judith said: 'I love the fact that making my home warmer and comfortable not only means it's cheaper to run – it's also having a big impact on carbon emissions.' She also estimates the house is now worth at least £90,000 more than its equivalent house without a retrofit - making all the energy efficient investments financially worthwhile too. Advertisement How to save on your energy bills SWITCHING energy providers can sound like a hassle - but fortunately it's pretty straight forward to change supplier - and save lots of cash. Shop around - If you're on an SVT deal you are likely throwing away up to £250 a year. Use a comparion site such as uSwitch or to see what deals are available to you. The cheapest deals are usually found online and are fixed deals - meaning you'll pay a fixed amount usually for 12 months. Switch - When you've found one, all you have to do is contact the new supplier. It helps to have the following information - which you can find on your bill - to hand to give the new supplier. Your postcode Name of your existing supplier Name of your existing deal and how much you payAn up-to-date meter reading It will then notify your current supplier and begin the switch. It should take no longer than three weeks to complete the switch and your supply won't be interrupted in that time.
