Tim McNulty
PLANS to build hundreds of power lines through a series of beautiful valleys in the Andalucian countryside has sparked protests by angry residents.
The Lecrin Valley and the Alpujarras area, south of Granada, was made famous by former Genesis drummer and best selling travel writer, Chris Stewart.
But residents fear building the network of electricity masts will wreck the landscape and cause radiation.
Energy company Red Electrica de España has pushed ahead with the plan to install a network of some 211 towers running from Benahadux in Almeria to El Fargue in Granada.
Scottish expat Teresa McKeon, 49, told the Olive Press: “I see pylons everywhere now but these are not the normal pylons that you get in the countryside, which are normally quite small, they are enormous structures and are going to completely and utterly destroy our beautiful countryside.
“The whole place is going to be destroyed it is just awful actually, it really is awful.”
Residents feel they have been kept in the dark by the energy company, which is partly owned by the Spanish government.
McKeon said: “A highway of huge pylons going through the valley and nobody knew about it until late December, it’s been planned for years and the company failed to notify people.”
Opposition group Di No A Las Torres (Say No To The Towers) claim radiation from the towers would have a ‘a devastating effect’ on health, tourism and agriculture.
The protest group has organised a demonstration by residents this Sunday in the village of Conchar from 11am.
The project’s public consultation period is open until March 7.
