Mr. Alexanderasked the Minister of Transport, whether his attention has been called to the strong feeling against the proposal to carry new lines of electric wires, pylons and transformers between Littlebrook and Hastings; and what would be the estimated cost of laying these wires underground as compared with carrying them overhead on pylons?
§ Mr. BurginThe Central Electricity Board modified the route of their proposed transmission line in the vicinity of Bodiam Castle in response to representations made to them by local authorities who intimated that they did not desire to exercise their statutory right to be heard. Subsequenly I gave my consent to the placing of the line above ground. Certain landowners refused to give consent to the Board to place the line across their land. The Board applied for my consent and an Inquiry was held to give the parties concerned an opportunity of being heard, and after considering the representations made at the Inquiry I gave the consent for which the Board asked. In reply to the second part of the Question, I am informed that the cost of an underground line would be about ten times the cost of the overhead line.