Decision over plan for 70 pylons near villages is delayed

A government decision on controversial plans for dozens of pylons cutting through the Canterbury countryside has been delayed.

The Secretary of State was expected to reveal this month whether approval was being given for the project – called the Richborough Connection – following a lengthy public inquiry.

But it has now been put off until August after extra evidence was requested.

The scheme’s aim is to link a new inter-connector near Sandwich with the sub-station in Broad Oak Road, Canterbury.

The application by National Grid is part of a bigger project to allow the company to tap into electricity from the Continent via new undersea cables, called the Nemo Link. But there has been widespread fears over the impact of the proposed 70 pylons – each up to 50 metres tall – which will be installed on the route from Richborough to Canterbury, passing close to the villages of Sarre, Upstreet, Hersden, Westbere and Broad Oak.

As well as numerous protests from residents and parish councils, there have been objections by the city council, Kent County Council and South East Water – the latter because of the impact it could have on its own plans for a reservoir in Broad Oak.

Many have called for the cables to be buried instead of being car- ried overhead, which opponents claim will “scar” the picturesque countryside. National Grid says an underground connection would be too expensive.

The case for the development and objections were heard over six months during a planning inquiry at the Cathedral Lodge in Canterbury. The inspector has since made a recommendation to the government, which has not been made public.

The Secretary of State must make a decision within three months of receiving the report from the planning inspectorate but additional evidence was requested from some of the objectors and National Grid.

This week, parliamentary under secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, Richard Harrington, set the new deadline for the decision to August 8.

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Picture: Antony Quarrell The decision on pylons from Richborough to Canterbury will now be in August

The National Grid says underground cables rather than pylons are too expensive