The National Grid was accused of “running roughshod over the people of Anglesey” over plans to install a fresh network of overhead pylons on the island.

Earlier this month the Grid submitted a proposal to the Planning Inspectorate to connect the planned Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant and marine energy developments in the Irish Sea with the main electricity network.

This provoked an furious reaction with campaigners calling for underground cables to be used instead.

Ieuan Williams, deputy leader of Anglesey Council, made clear his opposition to the plans at a meeting in Menai Bridge last night.

“The Grid simply don’t care what we think and are running roughshod on us as an island,” said Cllr Williams, who confirmed the council was unanimous in its opposition to pylons.

“Can you imagine the National Grid running two rows of overhead pylons on the Isle of Wight or any other island for that matter?

“We will be responding to the Planning Inspectorate and highlighting our concerns over the process and the lack of information provided, especially regarding the proposed tunnel under the Menai Strait.”

According to the Grid, “undergrounding” would cost about £1 billion – compared to about £550 million for installing pylons – a cost that would end up being passed onto energy consumers in their monthly bills.

But farmer Wil Edwards, of Rhosgoch, said: “These pylons will affect everyone on Anglesey and we need to pull together as an island and say to the Grid, 'we don’t want them'.

“It’s all about money, what’s a few million to the National Grid? Protecting our island is priceless.”

The “Anglesey Says No to Pylons” group has collected a petition containing more than 13,000 signatures against more of the structures, which will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate to highlight the strength of feeling locally.

But Gareth Williams, the Grid’s senior project manager, defended the scheme.

He said: “The connection will transport low carbon power to homes and businesses across Wales and the rest of the UK.

“Our application is an important step in unlocking many millions of pounds of local investment and around 9,000 construction jobs that the power station will create,” he said.

The Grid insisted it had listened to people’s concenrs and amended its proposal by selecting a route corridor in the centre of Anglesey, avoiding options nearer the coast, avoiding towns and larger villages and proposing a tunnel under the Menai in order to protect the Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and iconic landscape.

“We’ve listened to what people have told us and made hundreds of changes – big and small – as we’ve developed our plans,” added Mr Williams.

“We believe our proposals offer the best balance of everything we must consider and mean there are no long-term effects for most areas of Anglesey and north Gwynedd,” Mr Williams added.