Louth & Horncastle’s MP “deeply troubled” by National’s Grid’s pylon plans

On Wednesday (January 18) it was announced that National Grid is proposing a £2billion plan to build a new high voltage electricity transmission line from Grimsby to Walpole, which they say is essential to increase the capability of Britain’s electricity transmission network in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, and West Norfolk and will ‘enhance Britain’s energy security, help reduce energy costs for consumers and combat climate change’.

Lincolnshire County Council Coun Colin Davie, executive councillor for economic development, environment and planning at Lincolnshire County Council, has already expressed his concern for the plans, saying the pylon infrastructure “won’t be great for Lincolnshire’s visitor economy” as the pylons, substations and overhead cables will “carve up our beautiful landscape”.

Victoria Atkins, Health and Social Care Secretary, as said that she is “deeply troubled by the National Grid’s proposals to build electricity pylons in our constituency” and said she has expressed these concerns “emphatically” to National Grid representatives.

“I have expressed particular concern about the proximity of the pylons to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of the Wolds, as well as the dominance such structures would have over the skylines of Louth, St James’ spire and the coastline,” she said, “I have demanded detailed explanations as to why offshore or underground cabling is not yet being considered.”

Ms Atkins is now urging residents to make their voices heard as consultation on the proposal begins, and will remain open until 13th March 2024.

You can respond online at nationalgrid.com/g-w, request a written feedback form by calling 0800 0129 153 or emailing [email protected].

“Please spread the word amongst your friends, neighbours and families to make sure their views are heard in this short consultation period,” Ms Atkins added.

A spokesperson for National Grid said: “This new electricity network reinforcement project in Lincolnshire is part of The Great Grid Upgrade and is needed urgently to connect new green energy to the grid. This will help meet the Government’s ambition to connect up to 50GW of offshore wind by 2030, so every home and business in Lincolnshire and beyond can be powered by clean, green and more affordable electricity.

“Government and the regulator require us to develop proposals which not only comply with government planning policy and environmental legislation, but are also efficient, economical and represent value for money to consumers, as the cost of new network infrastructure goes onto the energy bills of households across the country.

“We understand that plans for new infrastructure, including pylons, can cause concern in nearby communities, and we will be giving careful consideration to environmental and community impacts, and to feedback we receive from local people and stakeholders through our first consultation process which runs until 13 March 2024.”