National Grid are
proposing a
new overhead transmission line
from Bramford to Twinstead
National Grid
Proposal
'Corridor' 1 proposes a new line
of pylons alongside the two existing lines
'Corridor' 2 proposes replacing the smaller of the
two existing lines with a line of pylons similar in size to the
larger of the existing pylons (but requires
the building of a new substation at
Twinstead)
The map shows the route of the two existing power lines
-
running straight through the AONB
National Grid will announce their
chosen "route corridor option" after the
"Pre-application" consultation period has ended(28th Feb 2010) - in
"Spring 2010".
Details of IPC
process
Polstead Parish Council Information
Circular
including
A Request for Your
Views
on the
National Grid Proposal
Undergrounding
The National Grid proposals do not appear to consider
undergrounding of the lines -
A National Grid spokesperson stated on 13th September
2009:
“National Grid considers every case for undergrounding a power line
on its merits.
However, the cost of undergrounding can be 12 to 17 times more
expensive than an overhead line of the same length and we have a
statutory duty to develop and maintain an efficient and economical
system."
Undergrounding merits intensive investigation particularly
with regard to:
-
Cost: "17 times more expensive than
overground" is already being stated - but a project in Scotland saw
the cost of undergrounding drop from 20 times more expensive
to 6 times
-
Partial undergrounding in particularly
environmentally-sensitive areas
-
Undergrounding using high-voltage DC
lines
-
Undergrounding is routinely the case in
the majority of the rest of Europe
The Case for
Undergrounding
The View South-West Over the Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty
Site of Photograph on the
Map
Underground Cable
Presentation
National Grid
Undergrounding
documents
Links for Undergrounding
Petition for Undergrounding
You can now sign the
Petition
on the No. 10 website
The Planning Process
The "Bramford to Twinstead Tee (Sizewell C
connector)" is on the list of " IPC initial programme of anticipated projects" of the
Infrastructure Planning
Commission
.
The process and timescales are briefly outlined
here .
Press
Reaction
The East Anglian Daily Times has run several
articles on the proposals, and has started a
Campaign "opposing plans for a new line of gigantic power
pylons across the beautiful south Suffolk countryside".
Constable Griff in The
Times
(Photo Courtesy of Polstead Website)
A Land Despoiled by Pylons - The
Independent
Griff Socks It To
'Em
Again
in the East Anglian
And Yet
Again on BBC Look
East
BBC
website item
National Grid Financial Information
2008/09
"We have had another year of strong financial performance. Cash
generated from operations was more than £3.5 billion, revenue was
more than £15.6 billion, while adjusted operating profit and
adjusted earnings per share were higher by 12% and 6%
respectively."
Company Highlights
Meetings,
Events
National Grid has made presentations to County,
District and Parish Councillors.
20 Exhibitions for the General Public have been
held
The Suffolk County Council response
was amended and passed at the Cabinet meeting on
2nd February. The response was voted on by the Full
County Council at the meeting on 18th February.
Amended Response note para 2.
k)
The Babergh District Council
response was decided by the Strategy Committee
meeting on Thursday
11th February.
Babergh District Council Response
The Bury Not Blight Public Meeting
with National Grid
on Monday February 15th was the opportunity for
National Grid to share with us:
- that there will be no compensation for those affected by
blighted property values - just the normal wayleaves
- National Grid are "happy" to comply with
the
electromagnetic
field (EMF)
safety
requirements of the
Health
Protection Agency(HPA)
EMF & HPA
information
- National Grid do not acknowledge local environmental
designations, such as Special Landscape Area - only National ones,
e.g. AONB
Contacts: Peter Eaton
(peter.eaton2010@btinternet.com)
and Chris Leney
(park.farm1@btinternet.com
)
Polstead Parish Council
discussed their response to the National Grid
Proposal at the Parish Council meeting on Thursday 18th February.
Details available shortly.
Local
Links
Groton Pylon Alliance
Newton Pylon Information
Dedham Vale AONB & Stour Valley
Project
Suffolk Preservation
Society
Choose
Suffolk
National
Links
Revolt
Revolt images
Pylon Pressure
Contacts:
| Polstead Parish
Council |
Dave
Crimmin |
01787
375085 |
email |
| Babergh District
Councillor |
Sue
Wigglesworth |
01787
210029 |
email |
| Suffolk County
Councillor |
David
Yorke-Edwards |
01473
310176 |
email |
| Member of
Parliament |
Tim
Yeo |
01473
730674 |
email |