MORECAMBE'S MP has taken a 800-name petition to the Energy Minister in a bid to stop overhead cables crossing the Lune Valley. Geraldine Smith said she is going to take the matter up with John Battle but fears her case has already been 'substantially weakened' by the city council's failure to raise objections to Norweb's controversial proposals. Last month the planning committee voted not to object to the electricity giant putting up overhead cables from Butt Yeats, Hornby, to Tatham Bridge and from Wennington Station to Lower Ravens Close Wood, Wennington.

The area is classed as an area of outstanding natural beauty.

"There is a lot of concern locally about this and I've asked to speak directly with the Energy Secretary," said Geraldine. "It would cost Norweb something like £160,000 to put the pylons underground, which is an amount easily affordable to such a large and profitable company. A lot of people do not want to see overhead cables and I intend to pursue the matter as best I can but my case is weakened by the fact that Lancaster City Council has made no objections."

Local councillors decided not to press for a public inquiry amid fears that it would drain tax payers money.

Rural Lancaster County councillor, Tony Jones, was one of the people who signed a petition to block the controversial plans, which will blot the views which once inspired Turner.

He told the Citizen: "The basic principal in my view is that the Secretary of State for the Environment should have a public inquiry because this is matter of public concern. An investigation would establish a national policy which would be extremely helpful for planners and councillors in the future."

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