Canterbury farmers in pylon showdown

South Canterbury farmers may prevent Transpower from entering their properties today due to concerns about the company's use of private land to upgrade a major power line.

Transpower needs access to the farms to complete improvements to the Roxburgh-Islington line, which supplies power to Christchurch.

Federated Farmers' electricity spokesman Philip York says Transpower has been expanding the footings of some of the transmissions towers and has taken some new land in the process.

"It's not a huge amount of land but the fact is (Transpower) has exceeded it. Our legal advice says that the farmers can keep them off the property."

York says farmers are seeking full compensation from Transpower to cover the disadvantages of having pylons on their properties.

- NEWSTALK ZB