‘Inadeqaute’ compensation for farm pylons

Farmers are being asked for their views on how they are effected by electricity pylons on their land. Pic: Andrew Milligan/PA

A FIRST attempt in 20 years to assess the impact on farms of electricity pylons and poles is being carried out by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and the Energy Networks Association.

The survey will be crucial in determining future compensation for farmers with such infrastructure on their land, said NFU county adviser Lucinda Douglas.

She explained: “Developments in agriculture and the increasing size of farm machinery render current compensation levels inadequate.”

Annual payments - ‘wayleaves’ - compensate farmers for the land taken out of production and for having to work around the structures.

The survey, which is running on the NFU’s website, comes as Northern Powergrid this week announced an £18m project to replace 15 miles of overhead power cables with underground lines beneath the North York Moors between Malton and Whitby.