Carol Vorderman backs North Somerset power line campaign
Miss Vorderman, a former presenter on the hit Channel 4 show Countdown, is supporting the Save Our Valley (SOV) campaign set up to stop plans by National Grid to erect pylons through the unspoilt countryside of Nailsea, Backwell and Wraxall.
SOV was launched last month to fight plans by National Grid to create a new line from Bridgwater to Avonmouth to bring electricity from the proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point on to its transmission network.
The power giant is looking at a series of options for the new line, along two route corridors – one of which would cut through the countryside from Wraxall to Backwell and Nailsea.
The line – complete with 160ft pylons – would come over Wraxall Hill, past the school and church and then alongside The Elms before crossing Backwell Common, going along the railway line and Backwell Lake towards Youngwood Lane.
The other corridor runs to the west of Nailsea and out towards Tickenham.
Ms Vorderman, 48, who lives nearby, wants National Grid to withdraw its plans for the pylons completely.
She said: "Clearly there are engineering challenges to placing cables under the sea bed but it is striking that, in the 21st century, National Grid has not put forward a proposal for bringing the cables from Hinkley C to Avonmouth using the Bristol Channel.
"All of us who live in this beautiful part of the world have a duty to protect it for future generations so I urge everyone to get involved with Save Our Valley's campaign.
"It is ironic in the build-up to the critical summit in Copenhagen, where world leaders will attempt to put policies together to save our environment, that with this proposal, based purely on financial and not technical reasoning, National Grid are attempting to do the opposite.
"Make no mistake, if this is allowed to take place it will have a permanent effect on this wonderful part of Somerset.
"There will be no way back."
The new power line, which would be 37 miles long and cost £2 million a mile – could carve through as many as 25 towns and villages in North Somerset.
Ms Vorderman's support for the campaign comes after several hundred people packed a public meeting in Nailsea to grill National Grid bosses about the power line plan.
Concerned residents said they wanted the line buried under the Severn Estuary and raised concerns about the potential health risks posed by the pylons.
Save Our Valley spokeswoman, Sue Turner, said: "It's fantastic to have so much support.
"We may be the David against Goliath but National Grid has got a gritty fight on its hands."
For more information call Sue on 01275 545620.
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