A MASSIVE structure that protesters say would dominate the Deeside skyline could receive the go-ahead this week.
Angry campaigners will arrive at County Hall, Mold, ahead of a meeting to discuss plans for a converter station at Connah’s Quay Power Station.
They say it will blight the landscape for “generations to come”.
An outline planning application has been lodged by the National Grid to build the station and three building units in Kelsterton Road.
The plans, which have been recommended for approval by Flintshire Council planning officers, form part of a national project to transport excess energy produced in Scotland to other parts of the UK.
Residents have launched a major campaign to fight the plans.
Dennis Dodd, of Coleshill Place, said: “There are a few of us going down to the meeting to show our objection.
“This could be a blight on the landscape for generations to come. We are all against it.”
Mr Dodd who has lived in the area for more than 45 years said residents had fears over heath issues and noise, which he said could be as loud as a train passing.
According to the residents, the structure will also tower over houses in Cooper’s Lane, Dee View, Church Street and Kelsterton Road.
The company has not yet revealed the dimensions of the structure, but residents say they have seen a document which stipulates it will be 30 metres high and 120 metres long.
The plans will go before Flintshire Council’s planning committee on Wednesday.
Cooper’s Lane resident Cynthia Parry said a petition was being organised for students at Connah’s Quay High School. “It is their generation who are going to suffer,” she said. “We do not want this.
“They seem to put everything down here, the power station, the incinerator and now this. Surely they can find somewhere else for it. We are all against it.”
Councillor Peter Macfarlane said he had been delivering letters to residents in his ward to explain his views on the application and would be speaking against it at the meeting.
He also said residents were planning to attend the meeting.
In observations made in the report to the planning committee, Connah’s Quay councillor Eric Owen said the building is too high and will be overpowering to properties.
Geoff Bennett who has been leading the campaign added: “There will be a persistent noise emission which we would be expected to put up with 24/7 which will have a disturbing psychological effect.
“Also, health concerns have to be taken into consideration as we will be living in far too close proximity to a very large electricity converter station.
“The preferred site is in a very large populated area where it will dominate the skyline and undoubtedly have an adverse effect on our amenities and quality of life.”
Fears have also been raised about the effects on wildlife, as the site includes a Special Area of Conservation next to the Dee Estuary.
But the application says a buffer zone will be created where no development will take place between the converter station and the sensitive Dee Estuary ecological designations. It also says screening will be put in place to minimise the noise.
The report by planning officer Declan Beggan says: “The proposed development is strategic infrastructure which should benefit UK electricity markets.”
A company spokesman said the project was of “national significance”.
“National Grid and ScottishPower Transmission consulted local residents during the summer.
“The new circuit will enable us to transfer of large volumes of energy from Scotland directly to England and Wales through subsea cables.
“Scotland traditionally generates more electricity than it consumes and as new renewable energy projects continue to come online, it is anticipated that exports will increase.”
The meeting will be held at 1pm.