Walked past some works yesterday near Dunford Bridge on the rail trail. Seven electricity pylons are to be removed and cables buried underground instead. A lot of money and a lot of disruption. I don’t see the point: the towers are no more unnatural than the agricultural landscape in which they are set. I think they are moderately elegant, and a welcome reminder of the way we are all connected. It may be there’s a long-term saving of money from reducing maintenance costs, and possibly even a small saving in carbon emissions from using heavier cables and reduced transmission losses. But I find it hard to believe either of these justify the expense in money, disruption and carbon caused by this work. I am ready to be persuaded otherwise.
I fear it may also put the prospects of reinstating the railway even further away – and a railway there would’ve been a genuine and significant saving in fossil fuels.