Priti Patel MP with existing pylons that demonstrate their dominant effect on the local environment
Priti calls for public to respond to pylons consultation
Witham MP Priti Patel has called on the public to respond to the latest consultation from the National Grid on their plans for over 100 miles of new pylons and overhead power lines between Norwich and Tilbury. The latest version of these plans follows on from the consultation which took place last year and now includes the precise route proposed and the locations of the pylons.
An eight-week consultation is now underway and the proposed route runs through parts of the Witham constituency between the east of Coggeshall, through Rivenhall and towards Fairstead. Priti has raised concerns about these plans and has been working with her parliamentary colleagues to promote an offshore grid instead, to connect new offshore wind capacity to the grid.
Priti said: “The plans to cover this part of Essex and the East of England with a new network of pylons and overhead power lines are concerning and local communities are worried about the impact that they will have. It is vital that residents have their say and respond to the consultation taking place. The latest consultation shows the precise locations of the planned pylons, so local communities can see and understand the impact this will have on them.
“As well as this consultation taking place, the campaign I have been working on with my parliamentary colleagues in the region has meant that a study is also due to be undertaken this summer to review the case for an offshore alternative. This has been committed to following strong representations made to the Government and may lead to an alternative option coming forward to reduce the need for these pylons. I believe that an offshore option will have more benefits and be more effective at connecting new offshore wind generation to the grid and I will continue to make the case for the National Grid to change their plans.”
Details of the National Grid Norwich to Tilbury consultation, which is taking place between 27th June 2023 and 21st August 2023, can be found online at: