A PASSIONATE group of campaigners has urged people to reject National Grid's proposal to build pylons across south Cumbria and back their offshore route which will save money and protect the landscape.

Together with Graham Robinson and Charles Rowntree, Peter Gillett started a "No Pylons" initiative after National Grid revealed plans to build towering metal structures across the Duddon Valley towards Roosecote.

The trio had initially conjured up a plan to build electricity cables underwater from Kirksanton to Walney.

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However, after a rethink, they have now come up with a proposal to elongate the route so that cables go 30km underwater from Bootle to Walney.

Mr Gillett, a former shipyard boss who lives in Ireleth, said: "We have taken the route and extended it further north so that there is no horizontal direct drilling in the Lake District.

"National Grid have already done all the offshore work by coming up with ideas which they rejected due to cost, but they have missed the obvious, sensible choice from the people's point of view."

The 75-year-old is convinced that this route avoids 100-metre wide trenching, which is required to bury cables in the national park from Bootle to Silecroft.

This would be a costly procedure to undertake and would create chaos to the farming community in Copeland.

He is also adamant that the Bootle to Walney route avoids underwater cables leading to the wind farms and would free up more than £200m from the projected onshore spend which can be spent on finalising an offshore solution.

The public consultation period ends on January 6 next year and Mr Gillett wants as many people as possible to rally against National Grid and submit objections to prevent 50-metre high pylons from blighting the landscape.

He said: "We want people to object to the pylons route and you can do that through freepost.

This offshore route is quite frankly one of the few alternatives that will help the farms in the Lake District north of Millom and it will save money. What National Grid are planning to do would completely spoil the estuary."

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock has also been critical of National Grid's plans to construct pylons as high as Barrow Town Hall.

One New Year's Day, he is joining up with environmental campaigners for a protest walk through the Duddon Valley.

Ulverston town councillors also had a heated debate about pylons at their monthly meeting which was held on December 19.

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Councillor Colin Pickthall, who objects to National Grid's idea, said: "My particular concerns is that these things will march over the top of Kirkby Moor.

"Our green space is slowly but surely being industrialised with these giant things and it will only be a matter of time before they start building houses.

"What they are proposing is not acceptable to Furness and we should not allow it. If they have to go back to drawing board then that is what should happen."

For more information on the offshore route devised by the "No Pylons" team and information on how to submit objections to National Grid, please click here.