Power pylons will be ‘blot on landscape’
MORE than 200 miles of new electricity pylons will blight the countryside with outdated infrastructure, MPs and campaigners have warned.
The National Grid insists the 160ft-high pylons are needed to carry onshore and offshore energy, including from solar farms and North Sea wind.
But opponents claim underground and offshore grids would be better. They argue that pylons will take up valuable farming land and ruin local businesses relying on tourism.
Among the plans is a 90-mile stretch of pylons from Grimsby,
Lincs, to Walpole St Andrew, Norfolk, costing £1billion.
Matt Warman, Tory
MP for Boston and Skegness, said: “My constituents are angry with the proposals to rewire the grid in such a way that uses Lincolnshire as, what is frankly, a dumping ground for outdated infrastructure, that could be done better and could be done differently.
“The way that National Grid has behaved hasn’t made constituents feel that this is a meaningful consultation on proposals that will not be temporary but will be with us for many years to come. I have never had more emails or seen more packed public meetings. My constituents want to see value for money, landscapes not unnecessarily blighted and an approach that acknowledges the economic impact and the impact on food security.”
In a separate project, pylons will stretch 112 miles from Norwich to Tilbury, Essex. Objectors include former Home Secretary and Essex MP Dame Priti Patel. Meanwhile, a Bute Energy plan for more than 60 miles of pylons in Llanovery, Wales, is also facing fierce opposition. National Grid says its upgrade is vital to help the UK achieve its ambition of net zero emissions by 2050. Of the Grimsby to Walpole line, it said: “This new onshore electricity network is needed to connect more power and energy projects that are mostly onshore in Lincolnshire.
“It will carry enough clean energy to power six million homes and businesses. We are very grateful to the local community and stakeholders who have shared their views with us. We are carefully considering their feedback and will hold a further public consultation in 2025.”