Pewsey residents could influence a decision on whether to remove “eyesore” power pylons to improve an area of outstanding natural beauty.

As part of the £500m Visual Impact Provision project, residents in the Pewsey Vale are being invited to an event on Tuesday, March 3, at the Heritage Centre between 2pm and 8pm.

Members of the National Grid project team will be on hand to answer questions.

The information gathered will be used by National Grid as it investigates whether the section of line in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty could be part of the final shortlist of places to benefit from the project.

Director of the North Wessex Downs AONB Henry Oliver said: “We’re delighted to have been shortlisted for this programme. It underlines the outstanding qualities of the landscapes of the North Wessex Downs.

“The pylons that march across this landscape are undoubtedly an eyesore. We are looking forward to working with the National Grid and the local community to remove or reduce their impact.”

The project is an initiative to reduce the visual impact of energy transmission lines in protected areas by making use of money made available by regulator Ofgem.

This could include replacing overhead lines with underground cables, re-routing lines and screening substations or overhead lines from public viewpoints.

National Grid project manager Hector Pearson said: “These events are the first step in gathering essential information to help us to consider how we could potentially reduce the visual impact of these overhead lines and whether we could take this further forward.”

Rose Somerset, communications officer for the North Wessex Downs AONB, said: “The drop in event will give members of the public the opportunity to talk with members of the project team and to share any information that needs to be taken into account as part of the study.”

The North Wessex Downs AONB is one of eight areas across England and Wales that were identified in November as places that could benefit from the project.

Pewsey Parish Council chairman Andrew Whitney said: "Pewsey Parish Council welcomes the National Grid Visual Impact Project for Pewsey community and Pewsey Vale.

"Many people feel that the pylons are an eyesore in the Vale  in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in which we live.

"I would encourage as many people as possible from our community to voice their views and questions at the up and coming 'Drop In' session."

Residents unable to attend the drop-in session can contribute to the research by visiting www.nationalgrid.com/vip