The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to hold extraordinary meeting on Strumble Head cable covering (From Western Telegraph)

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to hold extraordinary meeting on Strumble Head cable covering

9:40am Wednesday 14th July 2010 in

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One of Pembrokeshire's most beautiful spots could be first in line to benefit from Western Power Distribution (WPD) funds to hide utility cables underground, the Western Telegraph can reveal.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA) is due to discuss the plans for Strumble Head, near Fishguard, at an extraordinary meeting today (Wednesday).

The proposals, which would see overhead electricity and telephone lines relocated underground, have been recommended for approval by officers.

A report states:

“The negative visual impact of the existing overhead utility supplies leading to the Strumble Head lighthouse and the special qualities of the landscape which they cross have identified this section of overhead line as an outstanding candidate scheme.”

The scheme could cost around £230,000, funded by WPD and BT Openreach.

Strumble Head is one of eight registered landscapes of historic interest in the park and is rich in archaeology.

“Undergrounding the cables that cross it would in the long term benefit the outstanding nature conservation interest of the site, including those features of national and European importance,” the report adds.

Since 1999 PCNPA polices to encourage the undergrounding over cables where it is the least damaging option have been in place.

It is hoped that all cables within the park will eventually be hidden as “it has long been recognised that towers, poles and overhead lines associated with electricity supply are intrusive in the landscape and detract from both its natural beauty and enjoyment of it.”

The Friends of Pembrokeshire National Park said it was in total support of the plans.

A spokesman added: "It would be good to have before and after pictures, with reassurance that the ground will be reinstated to its original layout and condition.

"We strongly welcome this action and urge WPD to embark on many more such projects in sensitive areas in the National Park."

katy.woodhouse@westerntelegraph.co.uk