The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A proposal to build 140km long new electricity cables on pylons through South Holland have been announced.
A consultation has launched on The National Grid’s proposal for the infrastructure to run from west of Grimsby to Walpole in Norfolk.
It would include utilising the proposed substation that the Outer Dowsing project is looking to build at Weston Marsh.
A final plan for the route of the cables and pylons has yet to be set, but The National Grid are looking at running it east of Donington, Quadring and Surlfeet, west of Weston, south of Moulton and easterly through Whaplode Fen and Whaplode St Catherine.
It’s then proposed to go east of Holbeach St John and through the Tydd Gote area.
It’s part of The National Grid’s ‘Great Grid Upgrade’.
It says the new power line ‘will be able to transport six gigawatts of power and connect proposed new sources of electricity that are planned to come onshore on the east coast.’
A spokesman for National Grid said: “National Grid’s proposals form part of The Great Grid Upgrade – the largest overhaul of the grid in generations.
“The upgrade plans come as the UK accelerates its transition to cheaper, cleaner, and more secure forms of energy which require changes to the network of overhead lines, pylons, cables, and other infrastructure that transports electricity around the county so that everyone has access to clean, more affordable electricity from new renewable sources.
“The upgrade – referred to as ‘Grimsby to Walpole’ – is required to support the UK’s net zero target by reinforcing the electricity transmission network in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk, and facilitate the connection of planned offshore wind generation, battery storage and solar, interconnectors with other countries and subsea links to Scotland, allowing clean energy to be carried on the network.”
The consultation is open until March 13.
Many living in the proposed area have received leaflets through the door on the proposals.
There’s also a number of consultation events.
They include one at Moulton Seas End Village Hall on Seas End Road from 2pm to 7pm on Friday, February 2.
There’s also another at Tydd St Giles Community Centre on Broad Drove East, Wisbech, PE13 5LN.
It may only be day one of the consultation but Lincolnshire County Council has already raised objections.
Coun Colin Davie, executive councillor for economic development, environment and planning said in a media release: “This so-called ‘Great Grid Upgrade’ won’t be great for Lincolnshire’s visitor economy as these pylons, substations and overhead cables will carve up our beautiful landscape.
“Alongside our seaside resort towns, a huge part of our coastal charm is the miles of unspoilt nature and beaches that make up the east of Lincolnshire.
“There are a string of nature reserves along the east coast, not to mention the Lincolnshire Wolds, the beauty of which would be severely impacted by these unsightly pylons.
“I understand the need for infrastructure to connect new sources of renewable energy to the grid. However, elsewhere in the country, National Grid’s plans involve burying these cables under the ground or under the sea; why can’t that be done in Lincolnshire too?
“And this isn’t power being brought in to supply Lincolnshire’s needs, necessarily. This wall of wires and pylons is ostensibly to take power down to London and the south east.”
“We refuse to let Lincolnshire be seen as a place to dump unwanted infrastructure projects. But as these pylon plans are classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, permission won’t be determined locally.
“The council, as a statutory consultee, will be sure to make our views on the proposals clear to the relevant Secretary of State who will make the final decision to grant consent or not.”
