A PUBLIC meeting has been called in North Tawton following health fears over a power line and a new electricity sub-station which could be built in the area.

Western Power Distribution has lodged a planning application to erect a 132kV overhead power line mounted on 12-metre high poles from Alverdiscott to North Tawton. The scheme would involve felling trees and copses along the route.

The power company also wants to build an electricity sub-station at North Tawton to enable the electricity from the line to be redistributed to Okehampton, Whiddon Down and Crediton.

Cllr Gill Hoggins, chairman of North Tawton Town Council, said: ?This scheme was first suggested five years ago, when it was felt the need had not been proven, the health hazards were unknown and the risk to our children unquantifiable.?

She said the application was also considered to be ?an eyesore? in the surrounding countryside and ?clearly visible? from Dartmoor.

Cllr Hoggins said at the time of the previous application, queries were made about the possibility of the powerline being installed underground ? but Western Power said this would be too expensive.

?The new plans show the last 1,000m into the sub-station at North Tawton as being underground, but apart from that, nothing has changed and the issues remain the same,? said Cllr Hoggins.

She said the ?constant noise? which would be emitted by the sub-station was a further area of concern and North Tawton Town Council was ?urgently? seeking the views of residents with regard to the application.

West Devon ward member Cllr Nick Morgan said there had been strong feelings in the town about the previous application, particularly on the visual and safety aspects.

?If there is a real need for it, I don?t personally have a problem with it, but they will have to prove that need,? said Cllr Morgan, who was also concerned the visual impact of the site and line was kept to a minimum.

A spokesman for Western Power Distribution said: ?Research carried out to date does not establish that electric and magnetic fields encountered in the vicinity of electrical equipment have an adverse effect on health. Western Power Distribution does not consider there is any specific basis for changing present power system distribution or supply and practice.?

Regarding noise, the spokesman conceded that overhead lines did emit a certain amount of noise, but that the effect of it was considered ?negligible?.

He said: ?The substation transformers will produce continuous hum at a low level during operation. They will be fitted with cooling fans which only operate during abnormal system conditions when the transformers may be required to work up to their maximum rating.

?Other equipment to be installed at the substation will produce insignificant levels or noise or vibration during normal service.?

The spokesman said the ?transformer hum? sound pressure would compare favourably with background noise levels in the area.

John Milverton, senior planning officer at West Devon Borough Council, confirmed a previous, similar application by Western Power had been turned down several years ago.

He said the new application should be considered by West Devon?s planning committee in June.

The public meeting will be held on April 1 in North Tawton Town Hall at 7pm.

Anyone concerned or interested in the plans is urged to attend the meeting, when representatives from Western Power Distribution will be available to explain the scheme and answer questions.