A PETITION calling for a huge new power line planned for North Somerset to be put underground has been handed to the Government.

Members of campaign groups across North Somerset and Somerset travelled to London to hand over the petition featuring 2,100 signatures from people living in the area.

The document calls for the 400,000 volt power line being planned by National Grid to cross the countryside near Nailsea to be put underground or under the sea.

Currently, the energy giant intends to install 150ft high pylons along a route between a new power plant proposed for Hinkley Point C and a substation at Avonmouth, with the possibility of just some of the length being placed underground.

Chris Ambrose, a member of Wraxall and Failand Parish Council as well as Nailsea Action Group, was among the group that travelled to London to hand over the petition and also discuss the issue with environment and climate change minister Charles Hendry.

He was joined by Wells MP Tessa Munt and members of No Moor Pylons, Paul Hipwell and Fiona Torrens-Spence.

Chris said: “We recognise there is very little as an individual you can do so this was a bid to cover Somerset and North Somerset with more people and more MPs pushing for what we want.”

Issues raised with the Government minister included the cost of putting the company’s 350-miles of high voltage transmission lines underground, which would add about �7 per year to every domestic electricity bill - a cost the campaigners feel is a small price to pay for retaining the beauty of the countryside.