MP joins with ‘no pylons’ campaign

Lincolnshire MP Sir John Hayes has added his voice to objections flooding after plans for an 87-mile pylon march crossing the area.

The Grimsby to Walpole scheme proposed by National Grid, will include 87 miles of pylons to bring offshore power to sub stations.
The company behind the scheme said the cost of burying cables underground or under the sea was not feasible.
But the MP for South Holland and the Deepings says the 50m-high pylons would be ‘highly intrusive and inappropriate for the flat Fenland landscape, changing the character and nature of the surrounding environment’.
“A desire to meet top-down centrally-driven targets is no excuse for the destruction of natural beauty.”
Despite the public outcry, petitions and objections have rolled in. A Facebook page against the plans already has more than 3,700 members.
Calling the plan part of the ‘creeping industrialisation’ Sir John also highlighted the loss of top grade agricultural land which provides 30 per cent of the country’s vegetables.
“A clear risk to the use of this highly productive farmland, with prime agricultural land removed from food production at a time when world events have reminded us of the vital importance of food security,” he said.
Sir John added that National Grid has previously removed overhead lines and 18 pylons in the Cotswolds, replacing them with underground cables to enhance the landscape.
But National Grid has claimed the cost of overhead cables and pylons keeps the project viable.
The company said its proposals come in at just over £1bn but there would be a £4.39bn cost for offshore cabling and underground cabling would be £6.54bn.
“Our role is to future proof the electricity grid for years to come by carefully developing proposals with environmental and biodiversity considerations that represent value for money for all consumers, facilitating the transition to a clean, fair and affordable energy future,” said a statement from the company.
The first round of public consultation ended last week and more than 4,500 pieces of feedback were received by National Grid.
The pylons will be 50m high – 33m shorter than Boston Stump and Lincoln Cathedral.
Aside from individual and group opposition to the plans, Lincolnshire County Council is commissioning an independent report into the impact of the plans on farmland and the local economy.
“The council’s view is that National Grid have dismissed a valid alternative of putting the cables on the sea bed,” said leader Martin Hill.
But the National Grid is adamant it has not dismissed alternatives to the pylon scheme and said it had opted to not place a ‘significant extra cost’ on customers.
Sir John is calling on the company to look at laying underground cables between Donington and Sutterton Dowdyke in the north to Tydd Gote in the south.
“I support the county council’s preference for a coordinated, offshore centred approach, and would be keen to see the greater exploration of subsea options.”