Jane Dodds is calling for power cables in Mid Wales to be placed underground where possible, to protect the countryside.

The Mid and West Wales MS said at the Senedd that it’s important that Wales had a planning policy that's fit for purpose for now and the future.

She said that policy should include an “absolute assumption” that cables should be run underground whenever possible.

Ms Dodds said: “I wonder if the Welsh Government is open to considering doing an economic assessment on the costs for undergrounding versus those for pylons, including what that looks like for the future of our communities in relation to visual impact.

“Once those pylons are up, they will scar the landscape for the rest of our time.

“But undergrounding means that they cannot be seen and that our beautiful countryside stays as it is.”

Ms Dodds asked First Minister, Eluned Morgan, if the Government would consider doing an economic impact assessment on those options for the future.

Ms Morgan said an independent grid group is looking at a cost and benefit analysis.

She said: “We’ve got to be clear that there are costs to putting it underground.

“If there's a problem, for example, in the grid, it could take a lot longer to fix.

“It’s not a one-way issue - there are other things that we have to consider. We have got to bear in mind that energy costs are already high.

“If you underground, where the costs are likely to be higher, then they will be passed on to the consumer.

“We’ve got to be absolutely clear about that at a time when people are fearful about the amount they have to pay.

“There’s a balance to strike, which is why the independent grid group is really important. We'll wait for their recommendations, towards the end of March.”