AN assembly of East Anglian MPs has called for a consultation on controversial proposals for 110 miles of pylons to be reopened.
National Grid wants to install the 50 metre tall pylons to allow the travel of offshore wind power across three counties from Norwich to Tilbury in Essex.
Under the current blueprints, the pylon network will run south easterly past up to East Bergholt until it crosses the border into the Colchester district, running underground past Dedham, Langham and crossing the A12.
The letter, signed by 13 MPs, urged National Grid to allow residents to be given a chance to “express a meaningful choice”.
Calls have been made for the network to instead be laid offshore, a vision which has already been recommended by the firm for Scotland and north England.
But National Grid says this alternative was not “technically feasible or economic”, adding it must find an “appropriate balance” between environmental, social and economic costs.
The MPs have claimed residents were not given the same weight in their views as those in the north of the country before a consultation ended on June 16.
Led by South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge, the group has since seen Colchester MP Will Quince and Harwich and North Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin join as signatories calling for action.
The letter reads: “Further colleagues have signed this letter, such is the growing anger across our egion over National Grid’s approach.
“We want our constituents to be able to express a meaningful choice on the ‘top level’ question – overland or undersea.
“Any say in this choice was denied our constituents. To be clear, our constituents support an offshore grid to protect their countryside and communities.”
A new report published by National Grid Electricity System Operator says the plans play “a key part” in enabling the role offshore wind has in meeting the Government's target for net zero.
It reads: “The objective of the Offshore Transmission Network Review is to ensure the transmission connections for offshore wind generation are delivered in the most appropriate way.
“This will be done with a view to finding the appropriate balance between environmental, social and economic costs’."
Published by the Daily Gazette.
