The controversial 50-mile line of giant electricity pylons planned for the Vale of York will wipe millions of pounds from the value of houses in the area, it was claimed today.

Anti-pylons pressure group REVOLT claims up to 2,000 properties in and around the 28 villages within 2km of the proposed new pylon line from Shipton-by-Beningbrough, near York, to Cleveland, stand to lose 10 per cent of their value if it is built.

With houses in the area worth on average £100,000 each, REVOLT estimates the line will wipe £20 million from house prices along the route.

This estimate was backed today by Easingwold estate agents Charles Lightowler.

John Lightowler, of the firm's Spring Street office, said REVOLT's figures were accurate. He said he expected to see house prices being affected once work began on erecting the pylons.

He said: "If the pylons go close to certain villages, I am sure it will have an effect."

He added: "There is bound to be concern because it is going to make people think about certain areas."

And he said the line should have gone underground."These huge pylons are going to affect people's lives and the Government - whatever political party - attitude is "tough"."I do think more thought should have been given to putting these underground.

"Then they would not have the problem of people's property values going down and it would have been more environmentally friendly."

Farmer David Wilkinson, who lives at Pilmoor Grange, Helperby, and will have four pylons on his land under National Grid's scheme, said homeowners could lose out twice by facing lower house values and no compensation.

He said: "It will severely decrease the value. People are going to be worst affected the closer they are to the line and they don't get compensation unless the pylon is on their land or the line runs directly overhead."

Prof Mike O'Carroll, of REVOLT, said its estimates were conservative and the value wiped off house prices could be higher."There is also the general degrading effect across the whole of the area," he added.

A spokesman for National Grid said it did not believe property prices would be significantly affected.

But he added if people accepted REVOLT's arguments they had to accept the new line was a good move because it would allow for a line affecting 4,500 homes near Teesside to come down.

And he said there would only be 250 properties within 200 metres of the new line.

And he added that under British planning law there was no right of compensation if new developments infringed on a homeowner's view.

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