TWO major schemes to bury overhead power cables and enhance the landscape of Dartmoor National Park have now been completed. In a joint project between Western Power Distribution, the South West Protected Landscapes Forum (SWPLF) and Dartmoor National Park Authority, 36 poles and 6km of overhead line have now been removed from open moorland. At nearly five kilometres long, the Walkhampton scheme is the largest to be undertaken in the South West region by Western Power Distribution. The old overhead line was readily visible from the B3212 Princetown to Yelverton Road, strung across Walkhampton Common from Devil's Elbow to just above Horseyeatt at Peek Hill. The works to provide the new underground supply were mainly undertaken on the highway to minimise the impact on the sensitive moorland landscape, its archaeology, wildlife and livestock. Work on the Holne Moor scheme started in November with the 1km or so of underground works now completed. Archaeologists were on site throughout the trenching works but disappointingly nothing of great interest was revealed. The trench also accommodates new South West Water telemetry cabling, which is now helping to improve the monitoring and management of Venford Reservoir and dam. Jo Rumble, communities officer for the Dartmoor National Park Authority, said: 'This is such good news for Dartmoor and for all those who want to get away from it all and enjoy a sense of wilderness and timelessness in a nationally recognised iconic landscape. 'The Walkhampton Common scheme was identified by the Dartmoor National Park Authority in the early 1980s as a clear priority for Dartmoor. 'The removal of this length of line that stretched across archaeologically rich, sweeping open moorland has been an aspiration for some considerable time and our thanks must go to Western Power for not only enabling it to be realised but also for undertaking the works in such a sensitive way.' Philip Hutt, director of the Dartmoor Preservation Association, said: 'For many years the DPA has supported the undergrounding of these visually intrusive power lines. 'Their removal will be welcomed by all those who enjoy the natural beauty of this wonderful moorland landscape. 'Western Power Distribution is to be congratulated on bringing this project to fruition in a sensitive manner.' Christian Hjelm, consents and wayleaves manager for Western Power Distribution, said: 'This scheme is one of a number of iconic sites WPD is supporting under the current Ofgem Scheme. 'Our comprehensive customer consultation shows that the bodies in our area of operation in South West England and South Wales support the targeting of iconic sites. 'Initial discussions led to the creation of steering groups consisting of representatives from various National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) who suggested sites for consideration. 'Working with the group has been helpful — enabling us to spend time working up plans and costings from the limited funds available for high priority iconic schemes collectively agreed by representatives.' The Open Spaces Society, Britain's leading pressure-group for common land, has expressed its delight that 5km of 'ugly poles' and power-lines on Walkhampton Common have been removed.  Western Power Distribution obtained consent last year under section 38 of the Commons Act 2006 for the works, and the Open Spaces Society, as an expert on common land, was notified and supported the application. Kate Ashbrook, the society's general secretary, said: 'The beautiful open landscape of Walkhampton Common in the Dartmoor National Park has been blighted for decades by the overhead lines which run from Devil's Elbow to Peek Hill. 'We have campaigned with the Dartmoor Preservation Association and others for their removal. 'We are delighted that the landscape has at least been freed from this eyesore and we can once again enjoy the open, natural beauty of Walkhampton Common.'