MIDDLETON on Leven residents and landowners should have the chance to discuss pylon construction work with National Grid before work starts there next month.

That is the view of Hutton Rudby parish councillors, who have called for talks with the electricity firm.

They are set to discuss what form any talks should take at the monthly parish council on Thursday night.

Worries have been expressed about heavy traffic on narrow roads, child safety and the transporting of stone down a steep valley at Middleton. Landowners might also have questions about wagon and digger access on to fields and tracks.

The National Grid Company is building a new transmission line from Lackenby to Shipton, near York. The northern stretch passes Newby, Middleton on Leven and Picton.

Middleton resident Coun Mat McAdams has spoken to National Grid and his neighbours about a possible face-to-face meeting.

He told the D&S Times on Wednesday: "Residents want lorries to stay off the road when children are going to school and coming home. The road through Middleton is very narrow and we don't really want lorries and diggers coming along when little children are running about. We also want to prevent the road from becoming blocked, so we're asking how National Grid will manage its works traffic.

"Similarly, some of the pylon work is taking place down a very steep valley. We don't know how lorry-loads of stone will be transported down there because we don't think there's enough space."

His discussions with National Grid had been amicable.

"I discussed the possibility of holding a public meeting or at least giving residents the option to express their views to a National Grid representative. National Grid has offered to talk through its plans with us and it would prefer written questions beforehand. I've also spoken to the two landowners affected by the work, and I'll update Rudby Parish Council on Thursday.

"Local people want some sort of public meeting. They accept National Grid's plan has gone through, so this is really about health and safety issues. We'd like to see a statement."

At the last Rudby Parish Council meeting, Coun Peter Markey called for strict conditions to be placed on National Grid.

He added: "But this is about access on to roads and fields, and disturbance of the soil. Surely it will be open to the public?

"I think it should be made crystal clear that National Grid is going to have to toe the line. Nothing is to be done in a willy-nilly way. I think we should get information from National Grid and people in Middleton, before deciding how to conduct a meeting."

The pylons are due to be erected in July, following foundation work