CAMPAIGNERS have relaunched the fight against plans to build a massive structure that would dominate the Deeside skyline.
Last year the National Grid applied to Flintshire Council for planning permission to build a 30 metre high converter station at Connah’s Quay Power Station in Kelsterton Road.
Nearby residents described the structure as “monstrous” and feared it would blight the landscape.
The plans were thrown out by Flintshire Council’s planning committee in February, but now the power company has submitted a fresh application, and claims the revised building dimensions are “less than half the size of the original”.
But the neighbouring community is still not happy and has relaunched its campaign opposing the plans.
Coopers Lane resident Geoff Bennett, who spearheaded the original campaign, said: “It’s a prettier building, the footprint is less but it’s still the same height.
“We’re not going away. There has been no consideration for the residents.
“The first application was turned down, but they have appealed that one as well as putting in this new one.
“We have a strong residents committee and we will be lobbying everybody.
“We’ll be out knocking on doors to make people aware of it and urge people to protest about it.”
Residents and community leaders have called for the converter station to instead be built on the other side of the river, away from residents.
Mr Bennett added: “We will be going to the European Commission. The convention on human rights says these things should not be built near to residential properties if there is an alternative available, and they’ve got alternatives on the other side of the river, where there’s an industrial park.
“They keep saying they want to be good neighbours – if they want to be good neighbours, then build it over there.”
Under the revised plans, the structure would stand at 26 metres high, four metres less than the original.
A woodland area of 30 metres would also be planted to act as a buffer between the converter station and the houses.
A spokesman for National Grid said: “We have significantly reduced the footprint of the main buildings, which are now less than half the size detailed in the outline planning application.
“The development itself has been carefully designed and includes a curved roof that softens the view from elevated points in Connah’s Quay. We have worked with landscaping specialists to develop a comprehensive landscape and screening plan, which works with the design of the buildings to assist in the appearance of the development.”
The development is part of the Western Link, a project to build one of the world’s longest undersea power cables to bring renewable energy from Scotland.
The plans will go on public display at Connah’s Quay town council offices from today until August 18.