22 Apr 2015
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Local people invited to help with study on reducing visual impact of overhead electricity lines in the Peak District National Park
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Two public event scheduled for 29/30 April
National Grid and Peak District National Park collaborating as part of the Visual Impact Provision project
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Local residents are being invited to help with a study into reducing the visual impact of pylons in the Peak District National Park.
In November 2014, National Grid identified three sections of overhead power line in the National Park , as having a significant visual impact on the landscape - one of these lines is near Dunford Bridge. The company is now working with the Peak District National Park Authority and other local stakeholders including the Friends of the Peak District and the local CPRE group to investigate whether it's possible to reduce the impact of this power line in the National Park.
National Grid is inviting local people to share their feedback and local knowledge of the area at two events. Members of the project team will be on hand to answer questions and provide additional information about the project.
Wednesday 29 April
The Parish Room, Christ Church, Tintwistle SK13 1JY
Thursday 30 April
The Parish Community Centre, Sheffield Road, Victoria, Holmfirth HD9 7TP
Both events take place between 2pm and 8pm.
The information gathered will be used by National Grid as it investigates whether the section of line in the National Park could be part of the final shortlist of projects to benefit from the Visual Impact Provision* project.
This is a major initiative to reduce the visual impact of existing energy transmission lines in protected areas of Great Britain; it will make use of a £500 million allowance made available by energy regulator Ofgem until 2021.
Local community invited to join study on reducing visual impact of existing power lines in the Peak District National Park.
John Keeley, planning manager at the Peak District National Park Authority, said: "We hope as many people and interested groups as possible can attend these events. These measures would greatly improve the appearance of the valley, which runs through some of the wildest moorland landscape in the Peak District, and it is important that local people get involved and give their views.''
Hector Pearson, National Grid VIP Project Manager said: "National Grid's electricity network is vital to our way of life, but this project provides a real opportunity to help reduce its impact on treasured landscapes like the Peak District National Park. We have already investigated the potential engineering options available to reduce the visual impact of our power line in the west of the National Park. This event is the first step in gathering essential information to help us to consider how we could potentially reduce the visual impact of this overhead line at the eastern end of the National Park, near Dunford Bridge and whether we could take this further forward."
Peak District National Park is one of eight areas across England and Wales identified which could benefit from the Visual Impact Provision project. A Stakeholder Advisory Group made up of organisations dedicated to protecting precious landscapes across England and Wales will decide which locations from this final shortlist will be taken forward for feasibility work and potential engineering projects.
Residents who are unable to attend the drop-in session can still contribute to the research and register for project updates on the website www.nationalgrid.com/vip.