§ 5. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Power what objections he has received to the building in Dorset of the largest electricity pylons ever built in Great Britain.
§ Mr. PeytonObjections were raised by Dorset County Council and a number of other bodies and individuals. The objections were considered at a public inquiry held at Dorchester in December, 1962, and January, 1963.
§ Mr. DigbyIs it not the fact that hose inquiries related to the route and not to the fact that the largest pylons ever were to be reserved for an exceptionally beautiful county, much more beautiful than a lot of the National Parks, and that the reasons for this are simply not understood? Why is it necessary that we should have larger pylons than anybody else?
§ Mr. PeytonI do not think that Dorset has been in any way singled out for special treatment. The towers which carry this 400 kV line will be the same in Dorset as elsewhere. Everybody regrets the necessity for them, but it is difficult to produce a practical alternative.
§ Mr. DigbyIs it not a fact that they will be larger than any previous pylons, as we have been informed locally by representatives of the board?
§ Mr. PeytonThe 400 kV line is itself a larger affair than we have had pre- 1398 viously. The normal height of these towers is 165 ft. In some circumstances, they may go up to 195 or 215 ft. to give the necessary clearance.