No-Moor-Pylons
National Grid is proposing to install a line of 46.5m high pylons from Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station to Seabank in Avonmouth using the following proposed routes without, in our opinion, undertaking a full and open consultation with the public.
Artists impression of the proposed Pylons across the Somerset Levels
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............Click on Map for detailed route:..,,..______. Picture courtesty of YattonAgainstPylons
These GIANT pylons will be 46.5 meters high (nearly twice as high as the existing pylons) and would have a devastating effect on all residents, the environment and wildlife in the area.
Click to go here to our Act Now page
Phase 1: To demonstrate the level of public concern to National Grid's proposals, show residents the available facts about above ground cables, raise awareness with our MP's, raise awareness with our Parish Council's, raise awareness with the District and County Council's etc/
Reasons to say no to National Grid’s proposals
Phase 2: ‘No Moor Pylons’ is teaming up with all the groups along the Hinkley connector corridor to challenge the validity of National Grid’s consultation process and the basis of their corridor choice/s.
There are other more viable options, such as laying a cable in the Bristol Channel, or undergrounding the entire route. National Grid have been asked to justify why these options are not viable?
Underground cables are used extensively across Europe and in the UK. However, the sole 'Licensed Operator' for the UK, National Grid, is in our opinion resisting there use through the Somerset Levels and environs simply on initial installation costs alone.
National Grid has recently installed many subsea cables and we are currently pushing National Grid to adopt a similar solution through the Somerset Levels.
The final decision will be made by the Infrastructure Planning Commission (newly formed into a new body, more details to follow) in the summer of 2011, who have 'already urged [National Grid] to rethink its consultation on plans'.
It would appear that National Grid may have finally got the message that Somerset will not, in the 21st Century, accept inefficient over-head cables when alternative and more efficient methods are available.
Click to read why National Grid have not announced the Route Corridor..... In National Grid's press statement about the delay they state "...the opinions of residents are very important to us and will play a vital role in any decisions we make..."
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National Grid says rising electricity demand necessitates the expansion — there has to be a better way. Full Story here at the Sunday Times here 20/06/10
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"Britain’s most beautiful landscapes are under threat from a new wave of high-voltage pylons to be announced by the National Grid, conservationists warned yesterday." Full story at the Telegraph here 21/06/10
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More pylons are the Orwellian downside to the low-carbon future. And this is just the beginning. Full Story here at the Sunday Times here 22/05/10
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"National Grid has said it still favours building electricity pylons across the Somerset countryside, despite opposition.Project manager David Mercer said all the options had been looked at very carefully. "We believe on balance a power line is the right solution here but we are prepared to continue to engage with communities and listen to their point of view," he said." Full story on the BBC here |
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"One thing Britain does not need is more pylons. There are already legions of the metallic monsters stomping across our fields and hills — 22,000 of them in total — and 550 of these have colonised some of the loveliest countryside in Britain: across the Peak District; through the New Forest and the South Downs; along the North Wales coast. |
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Click here to read Griff's thoughts on Giant Pylons in Suffolk. The Times 05/02/10
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Terrence Blacker writes in about a 'land despoiled by pylons'. The Independent 05/02/10 |
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Click here to watch Griff being interviewed by the BBC. 25/02/10
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Bill Bryson said it was "crazy" to be building more pylons, rather than investing in green energy. CPRE 25/03/09
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Charlie Brooks, 'by burying electric cables we could create hundreds of rural jobs'. The Telegraph 26/02/10
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Carol Voderman is supporting the Save Our Valley campaign in North Somerset. The Independent 01/12/09
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And an article from the Chief Executive of National Grid, Steven Holliday in the Independant where he advises that it is a "...no-brainer..." to install an undersea electricity grid.
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Tessa Munt MP, has been campaigning against National Grid's inadequate consultation with local residents on its hugely unpopular proposals to erect huge pylons right across the Somerset countryside |
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David Heathcoat-Amory is keen to pursue putting cables underwater from Hinkley Point to Seabank in Avonmouth Mr Heathcoat-Amory also said: "The government is at least now aware of the matter and I will be following this up with other questions and interventions." |
IPC host meeting between NG and the protest groups 18th May 2010:
NG begin the PR blitz with the Parish Councils May 2010:
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NG have begun the PR blitz following the comments from the IPC about the consulatation process. Meeting held at the Webbington with just the Parish Councils in attendance |
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Shadow Secretary of State Visits Proposed Pylon Site. 28th April 2010:
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"Shadow Secretary of State Greg Clark today visited the location of the proposed giant pylons which National Grid want to build to connect Bridgwater and Avonmouth. He was accompanied by David Heathcoat-Amory who has been campaigning nationally in parliament along with Paul Hipwell, Chair of No-Moor-Pylons. David Heathcoat-Amory said “I am pleased that the man who will make the decision can see the environmental case for himself and the argument for a submarine cable option, or at least putting the cables underground.” Click here for full story from burnhamonsea.com |
Mendip Times April 2010:
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"Plans to run a line of pylons through the Mendips have sparked widespread protests. Here, Tarnock resident Alison Nicole Bullett explains the concerns. View full article in the Mendip Times. |
SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL condemn NG's Public Consultation as 'inadequate', March 2010:
“Somerset County Council is the latest, and biggest, authority to condemn the consultation process for the line which would see 160ft high pylons carrying power 37 miles from a new Hinkley Point power station to a sub station at Avonmouth, near Bristol.
“A full meeting of the county council this week condemned the first round of consultation as being “fundamentally flawed”. “The council is calling on the Secretary of State for Climate Change, the Infrastructure Planning Committee, and National Grid to ensure that a new and “fully informed” consultation takes place before any decision on the route is made, and before detailed proposals are submitted to the IPC.
“A motion proposed by county council Liberal Democrat group leader Jill Shortland, and seconded by environment portfolio holder Anthony Trollope-Bellew, said the proposals were also premature because consultations on national energy infrastructure policy is not yet complete.”
Full story reported by thisissomerset.co.uk here.
SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL full meeting 17/02/2010
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No-Moor-Pylons, along with other Pylon groups, petitioned Somerset County Council (SCC) on the 17/02/2010, and gained confirmation from SCC that they believe, as Statutory Consultees, that the Public Consultation from National Grid under the new Planning Act 2008 has not been adequate.
Further confirmation that National Grid are not spending our collective money (and that of their shareholders) correctly. Cllr David Huxtable went further and said: “...I think we are all agreed that the [public] consultation is a bit of a sham...".
Cheddar Valley Gazette 11/02/2010 "if we are happy to bury wires in the plaster of our houses, why not bury electricity cables..." Paul Hipwell 11/02/2010
Local Blackford Theatre group 'poke fun' at National Grid's intention to install pylons across the Somerset Levels as recorded by the Cheddar Valley Gazette on the 11/02/2010
No-Pylons-Loxton organised a March from Christon to Loxton on Saturday 30th January 2010. Nearly 350 people attended with representations from David Heathcoat-Amory MP, John Penrose MP, BBC, HTV, along with the Bristol Evening Post. A helicopter flew at 46.5m above the ground along the proposed route in the Loxton gap to show the true height of the proposed pylons in relation to Crook Peak and the existing 132kv line. See Burnham-on-Sea article HERE
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Click HERE to go to our Act Now page.
Please get in touch with us if you need any further information, or you would like to help etc.
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