THOUSANDS of people have taken a stand against the damning prospect of pylons being built across south Cumbria as more than 8,000 responses to the controversial proposal were sent to National Grid.

Campaigns and protests supported by local figureheads and prominent MPs have taken place on numerous occasions over the last few months to oppose National Grid's proposal to erect 50m high pylons through rural landscape.

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 using a mixture of pylons and underground cables.

Peter Gillett, from Ireleth, has been at the forefront of the No Pylons campaign, which is encouraging National Grid to consider an offshore route from Bootle to Walney.

As a group, they have been campaigning relentlessly to get people to send individual objections to National Grid and he was delighted that so many people submitted responses.

The 75-year-old said: "It's excellent news. I think it will force National Grid to take another look at the whole project.

"People are obviously concerned about the decision to build pylons across the Duddon and through Furness and the number of responses is a reaction to that."

National Grid now has to decide whether to submit its planning application and when it does, the Planning Inspectorate will have 28 days to accept the application and decide if the company can proceed to the examination stage.

Mr Gillett added:"Our fight as a group continues until National Grid announce that they are not putting pylons around the Duddon and Furness. We're in it for the long haul."

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock joined forces with Power Without Pylons campaigners to organise a New Year’s Day march and later addressed a rally that attracted hundreds of residents.

Commenting on the 8,000 responses sent to National Grid, he said: "The massive number of local people who have been motivated to respond to this consultation only serves to underscore the strength of feeling in our community about these proposed pylons.

"People understand the need for the new power station at Moorside and for the jobs it will provide but they are not prepared to see some of the finest countryside in England blighted for this generation and others yet to come.

"We have stuck together and spoken with one voice. National Grid and the government can hardly overlook the hundreds who marched on new year’s day nor can they ignore this huge response to the consultation."

Robert Powell, the project manager, said that all feedback will be considered as he announced plans to submit a formal planning application to the government later this year.

He said: "We are very grateful to the people who took the time to give us their views on our plans.

"We know that this project stirs strong passions but we have to bear in mind that, ultimately, the cost of it will be borne by every single electricity bill payer in the country and we have to think carefully how we spend their money."

Mr Woodcock also said that he plans to hold a meeting with North West Coastal Connections on February 1 where he will reiterate the concerns of local residents.