No pylons lincs article on negative effects of proposed pylon scheme
No Pylons Lincolnshire
National Grid announced on January 18th 2024 their proposal to build a 140km line of huge 50m high electricity pylons through the Lincolnshire countryside, from Grimsby to Walpole, just over the Norfolk border.
The proposed route skirts North Thoresby, Louth, Alford, Burgh le Marsh, Boston and Spalding, cutting through a huge number of villages along the way.
The negative effects of these giant and noisy pylons on the Lincolnshire landscape, natural environment, tourism, farming, and quality of life for residents would be enormous.
National Grid is presenting this as a definite plan, but it is a proposal that can be fought.
Link to page on National Grid website: https://www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/network-and-infrastructure/infrastructure-projects/grimsby-to-walpole?fbclid=IwAR0jIdtEyywc_9VxkC-XmEqFsdC739tQHMkQy1Kh8vSeGe6C0IwNq7w1Sww
Link to interactive map of proposed route: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/1fab14e7350844bcafd40ca44709d98e?data_id=dataSource_3-18c82d63006-layer-67-18c82c91563-layer-54%3A1
Pylons are unnecessary
An integrated offshore grid would be better, faster and cheaper, as shown by the group in East Anglia campaigning against a similar pylons plan there: https://pylonseastanglia.co.uk/technical/
That campaign has already resulted in the government funding a study to assess the viability of using offshore cables instead of pylons in Essex. Let’s do the same in Lincolnshire!
The UK is the only country considering increasing their capacity with pylons on the land. In Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands they are already building offshore islands and a sub-sea grid. This method reduces overall infrastructure by 50%! https://pylonseastanglia.co.uk/technical/
The offshore route that National Grid considered for Lincolnshire was not an integrated grid and so the costs they present are higher than for pylons. In fact, an integrated offshore grid would be better, faster and cheaper.
Some MPs and councillors are fighting the proposed pylons plan in Lincolnshire and East Anglia. Residents need to fight too.
Suffolk MP Dr Dan Poulter raised the issue at a recent meeting of the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee and told reporters on January 24th 2024:
“The energy experts have told the Select Committee what we have known locally all along - that an offshore grid would be a cheaper, quicker and more effective way of transmitting the energy supply produced from offshore wind.”
Most important: as many people as possible to submit feedback to the National Grid consultation process before the deadline of 13th March.
The total number of people saying they are against the proposed plan during that consultation will be the fact that is referred to throughout the process afterwards.
What you can do
- Submit feedback to the National Grid on this proposal by the deadline of 13th March: https://engage360.tractivity.co.uk/2faa1b21-c5f8-460b-9e17-f5b3f50394b2/survey?q=2022%7cTO%2bJRsrehn4ZOgTykmuAK8ULI8npWGycmSnQ8c1rthLHkieRAGfCHg%2f6RUtIks%2bHO2ZWedqjSvl9wNUoPajqaQ%3d%3d
Ask your friends, family and neighbours to submit feedback too.
- Attend a zoom meeting with other concerned Lincolnshire residents about the issue on Monday January 29th at 8pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81081193401?pwd=QUxlSitNcXRMYmJySjgzVTY1MWRpQT09
Meeting ID: 810 8119 3401
Passcode: 477230
- Attend National Grid’s local meetings and suggest to others that they come on board to fight the proposal too. Schedule of local events from Wednesday 31st January to 29th February in various locations along proposed route. Listed under Public information exhibitions here: https://www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/network-and-infrastructure/infrastructure-projects/grimsby-to-walpole?fbclid=IwAR0jIdtEyywc_9VxkC-XmEqFsdC739tQHMkQy1Kh8vSeGe6C0IwNq7w1Sww
- Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/427539323082424
- Offer any help or expertise: nolincspylons@gmail.com