Going underground: Local people invited to help develop plans which could see section of New Forest overhead power line buried

27 Jun 2016

• Local people invited to help develop proposals which could see section of overhead electricity line taken down and replaced with underground cable
• National Grid working closely with the New Forest National Park Authority and others on the project
• Public information events are due to be held in the village of Hale

Local residents are being invited to help develop plans which could see a section of overhead line in the New Forest National Park removed and replaced with electric power lines buried underground.

The work is part of National Grid's Visual Impact Provision project* a major initiative to reduce the visual impact of existing high voltage power lines in protected areas across England and Wales.

In November 2014, a section of power lines near the village of Hale were first identified by an independent study as having a major landscape and visual impact.

National Grid has since been working with local organisations including the

New Forest National Park Authority, the National Trust, the Verderers of the New Forest, the Forestry Commission and Natural England to investigate burying the cables.

Local people can come and find out how the plans are shaping up and give feedback at two events being held as follows:

Date: Friday 1 July

Time: 4.00pm-8.00pm

Venue: Hale Village Hall, Hatchett Green, Hale, Fordingbridge, SP6 2NE

Date: Saturday 2 July

Time: 10am - 4pm

Venue: Hale Village Hall, Hatchett Green, Hale, Fordingbridge, SP6 2NE

Members of National Grid's project team will be available to answer questions and discuss the project in more detail.

Sarah Kelly, Landscape Officer, New Forest National Park Authority, said: 'The overhead high voltage electricity line that crosses Hale Purlieu cuts across one of the most beautiful parts of the New Forest National Park. National Grid has been investigating the possibility of undergrounding this line and the events at Hale Village Hall are a great opportunity to find out more about these feasibility studies. We would urge people to take this opportunity to find out more and also give your feedback to National Grid.'

Hector Pearson, National Grid VIP Project Manager said: 'We're considering potential route corridor options where we feel we could bury the power cables, enabling us to take down some existing pylons.

'We are looking at a range of options and listening to the advice from local experts. While undoubtedly there would be some local disturbance and inconvenience while dismantling the pylons and laying the cables, we feel that removing the pylons from this key part of the New Forest would have long term benefits.'

He added: 'We're keen to share these plans with the local community and to find out what they think about them.'