The dissolution of Parliament for the General Election on 4th July means National Grid has extended the deadline on its statutory consultation on its proposed line of hundreds of massive pylons from Norwich to Tilbury until Friday 26th July.
The impact of this proposal on people living in Ingatestone, Herongate, Hutton and West Horndon cannot be underestimated. Each pylon comes with the need for huge disruption involving construction, cabling and links to sub-stations.
This week I popped over to Writtle where a local scaffolder has erected a ‘mock’ version of one of the pylons – and even at less than half the size the pylons will be, it is an overbearing and intrusive structure. You can see my thoughts on it on my Facebook page.
As readers of this column know, I have been supporting local residents in their campaign against these onshore pylons for the last two years and, with my Conservative colleagues across the East of England, have been calling on National Grid to fully consider alternative options to its destructive onshore proposals.
While I am fully supportive of the work done in recent years by the Government to reduce emissions, build wind farms and develop new energy technologies, to protect our energy supplies and keep bills down, I am very worried about the impact the construction of this line of pylons could have on our countryside, on our roads and public rights of way, and on the lives of local people. I will continue to support those affected in campaigning for an offshore cabling option which has been successfully used in other parts of the country.
Your can take part in National Grid’s consultation online at http://www.nationalgrid.com/n-t and I would encourage you to make your views known in a robust fashion before the 26th July consultation deadline.
