Middleton, between Hutton Rudby and Seamer - www.goalst.com.

Middleton, between Hutton Rudby and Seamer, were concerned that their homes would be only about 230 metres from the new lines. However, Dr. Male said research showed that 200 metres away from lines the fields were extremely low. Mr Markie also highlighted the fears of Middleton residents who already suffered noise from the existing 275,000-volt lines. The inquiry at Hambleton Community Centre also heard from Mr Eric Eunson, an NGC policy official, that the countryside of North Yorkshire and Cleveland did not merit underground cables. Although sections of electricity line near the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales had been undergrounded following a public outcry, there were no plans to do the same where the route skirted the North York Moors National Park. Mr Tom Smith and Mr Peter Bedford, for the NGC, also reiterated that undergrounding cost many times more than overhead lines. Mr Eunson said the company would probably appeal if the environment secretary ordered the undergrounding of cables. Landowners along the proposed routes from Lackenby to Picton and Picton to Shipton were worried that a planning blight would affect a