Hereford electrical substations plan refused

A plan to put up two electrical substations each nearly three metres high at the entrance to a popular Hereford open space has been thrown out.

A local office of the National Grid had sought planning permission for two green glass-fibre polyester cabinets on concrete plinths that would house units to supply electricity locally, including to a nearby waste water treatment works.

They were to be at the Green Street entrance to the 100-acre Bartonsham Meadows nature reserve occupying a bend in the river Wye, which its owner the Church of England currently leases to Herefordshire Wildlife Trust.

The proposal drew about 100 objections, mainly from local residents, and was passed to councillors on Herefordshire Council’s planning committee to decide.

Planning officer Maria Philpott had recommended they approve National Grid’s proposal, which would “enhance the nature reserve by replacing the unsightly overhead power cables with a form of development that can be more easily mitigated and softened, whilst improving electrical supply”.

National Grid representative Wesley Gammond said the plan would “reduce visual impact and bird strikes” without affecting public access, and maintained there were no alternative locations that would enable the upgrade to local infrastructure.

For Hereford City Council, Coun Jeremy Milln said he and colleagues had been “horrified” at what would be “an industrial form of development blighting a remarkable prospect”, and that the application had not committed to removing the overhead power lines.

Local resident Will Steel, representing Friends of Bartonsham Meadows and the St James & Bartonsham Community Association, said there had been no community consultation on the application, which had not addressed the visual impact on “this unique and much-loved site”.

Committee member Coun Bruce Baker backed the plan, saying the cabinets would be “less of an eyesore than the existing pylons”.

But colleague Coun Roger Phillips said their siting was “most unfortunate, and wrong”, and his proposal to refuse the bid was backed by a majority of committee members.

Committee chair Coun Terry James added that the Church Commissioners, who manage the church’s estate, “bear some responsibility for this situation”, accusing them of “a lack of consideration of local communities which we have seen over the years”.