HUNDREDS of campaigners came out in force for a protest walk against plans to erect 50m tall pylons pylons across the Duddon Valley.

On a clear and crisp New Year's Day morning, protesters walked alongside Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock on two separate marches which set off from Askam and Broughton.

Armed with banners and picket signs, the two groups converged in Kirkby where Mr Woodcock gave a rousing and passionate speech to approximately 500 people in the car park of the Ship Inn in Askew Gate Brow.

He said: "This is such a wonderful part of the world and one of the most special parts of England.

"The point that we have made throughout our campaign is that the Duddon Valley is every bit as special as parts of the Lake District.

"The government needs to listen to what we are saying because I think the majority of people in this community are robustly in support of the new power station. It will create new jobs and of course the power needs to get to the rest of the country.

"But there has always been an implicit understanding that it is has to be done in a way that preserves the beauty we have in this area.

"The giant pylons that have been proposed to come down this valley break this deal and the important thing to remember is that there are a number of alternatives to this."

Instead of braving the freezing Walney sea for the annual New Year dip, Mr Woodcock was keen to join with environmental campaigners in their fight to stop pylons ruining the landscape.

He said: "It was a really great turnout given it's New Year's Day and the need for an early start because of the tides. It just shows the strength of feeling on this issue.

"People understand the need for the new power station and the jobs it will provide but there is an alternative to putting up these giant pylons and cutting up this most wonderful part of England and treasured part of the Lake District.

"If the government can afford the mitigation measured in other areas as it clearly has then it must listen to the huge and growing campaign to afford a small level of protection to the Duddon."

The proposed route by National Grid aims to divert power from the new Moorside nuclear power station at Sellafield to the grid in Heysham, Lancashire.

To do this, underground cables will run from Sellafield to Kirksanton before 50-metre pylons are built around the Duddon Valley to Roosecote where an underground tunnel will then deliver electricity under Morecambe Bay to Heysham.

Former shipyard worker Charles Rowntree, who is part of the 'No Pylons' team which is campaigning for an offshore route to deliver energy to the rest of the country, was pleased to see so many people take part in the walk on the first day of 2017.

The 78-year-old said: "I'm chuffed – it was a brilliant turnout. Hopefully this will spur people on to protest before January 6 and I hope this will get the message across to National Grid that we are not happy.

"They have seen the 'No Pylons' signs and it's clear that the area is very anti-pylons and hopefully this will get the message across even more so. They can't say after this that nobody cares."

Barrow Borough Councillor Brendan Sweeney also pledged his support to the campaign by donning his walking boots for the protest trek.

He wants to see the pylons which already exist across the Duddon Valley taken down and for a tunnel to be built to prevent any eyesores from ruining the landscape.

He said: "Pylons around the Duddon are completely unacceptable.

"I have concerns about the offshore proposal because we would still be stuck with the pylons that we have already got for the indefinite future so I am pushing for a tunnel under the Duddon to be built."

The walk was organised by the Power Without Pylons group with other leading figures including Cumbria County Councillor David Fletcher and South Lakeland District Councillor Joss Curwen also in attendance.

The public consultation period ends on January 6 and Mr Woodcock used his speech as an opportunity to urge people to send in individual submissions against National Grid's proposal before the deadline on Friday.

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