Power lines to be removed at beauty spot

The high voltage overhead network which criss-crosses the River Adur, running between Upper Beeding to the former Beeding Cement Works on the east of the river to the vicinity of St Botolph's on the west is coming down in the next few weeks.

The power lines are visible from the South Downs Way and Downs Link long-distance bridleways and riverside footpaths that converge in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The site was originally put forward by the South Downs Joint Committee as having maximum benefit for the general public and the landscape.

Nat Belderson, committee planning officer, said: "Local people will immediately notice the reduced clutter in the landscape as this is such a popular green space.

"Few projects make such an immediate and permanent improvement to our nationally important protected landscapes as the removal of power lines."

EDF Energy Networks has investing 496,000 in the project to remove more than two miles of overhead network and 45 wooden support poles in the vicinity of the Saxon St Botolph's Church.

The move has been made possible thanks to a special allowance given by electricity industry regulator Ofgem.

Under the terms of the allowance, EDF Energy Networks has 7.7m to invest up to 2010 on projects to install underground cables in place of overhead power lines in official Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and national parks in the South East.