A RURAL Cheshire village has been earmarked as the site of an electricity sub station the size of three rugby pitches.
National Grid has chosen a picturesque plot of greenbelt at Acton Bridge, near Weaverham, for the new base.
They say the massive steel structure - about 250m long and 92m wide - is needed to power new high speed trains on the West Coast Mainline.
Residents are furious and have launched a campaign to stop the work, which they say will ruin the landscape of the village.
Steve Pardoe, who lives near the site, said: "This is totally out of character with the area and would be in a conspicuous position at the entrance to the village.
"It is greenbelt land but because of certain rights it doesn't prevent them from siting it here.
"It is inappropriate and will be a real blot on the landscape."
The sub-station and its pylons and cables are part of National Grid's plans to boost power along the new track needed for the Pendolino trains running out of Liverpool.
They say the existing power supply cannot cope with the new high powered service.
As well as ruining the landscape they say the fact their train services has been cut has added to their fury.
Mr Pardoe added: "It's particularly galling that this development should be dumped on the village just as train services from Acton Bridge are being cut back even further. It's now impossible to commute to Liverpool for a normal working day, and the Pendolino trains, for which the increased power is required, won't even be stopping at Hartford.
"It's not like a typical village substation, serving a few houses: the installation, will be huge, roughly the size of three rugby football pitches, with all-night illumination and an electrified fence and highly visible from the road, nearby houses, and local public footpaths.
"The site area covers about two hectares and would start immediately beyond the hedge in the fore-ground of the photo above, totally obliterating the rural landscape."
Although the plans are in the early stages, National Grid can push them through under special powers. But National Grid said it is looking for a compromise.
Sean Regan, community relations manager for the company, said: "I can appreciate the feelings of the community. We are hopeful we can find a way of sorting this out with the residents.
"National Grid is under a statutory obligation to provide power connections to our system. Network Rail needs a connection to a 400 volt system for the West Coast Mainline and that is the only area we can do this."
