Norwich to Tilbury pylon scheme campaigner calls on regulator to intervene

A campaign against a controversial pylon scheme has called on the national energy regulator to “step up to the plate”, after accusing it of failing to properly scrutinise the plans.

The Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons action group wrote to Ofgem last week, demanding that it intervene on National Grid’s proposed pylon line through East Anglia.

Spanning 112 miles from Norwich to Tilbury, via the Suffolk and Norfolk countryside, the plans have faced opposition from the region’s district and county councils, as well as MPs across the political spectrum.

The letter urged Ofgem to tell National Grid to “go back to the drawing board”, and properly consider alternative infrastructure options, such as an offshore grid and underground cabling.

Campaign founder Rosie Pearson alleged that National Grid was “wreaking havoc in rural communities”, and that it had been allowed to operate without scrutiny from Ofgem.

Ms Pearson, pictured, also pointed to the results of the campaign’s recent national survey of 1,000 people.

“The results show overwhelmingly that people want to see British countryside and food security protected in the grid upgrade and full compensation for those affected by grid infrastructure,” she wrote.

“Seventy-six per cent favoured offshore co-ordination and 70 per cent said cables should be laid underground. Eighty per cent wanted to see an upgrade to existing infrastructure.

“It is infuriating that, until now, Ofgem has ignored our pleas for scrutiny of this project.

“There is only one sensible solution – and that is to go back to the drawing board. There are viable alternatives to pylons. They are not more expensive, and they are popular.”

National Grid has repeatedly insisted that the pylon reinforcement is necessary to enable the transmission of energy being generated at offshore wind farms.

However, in her letter to Ofgem, Ms Pearson claimed that videos on National Grid’s own website, which she says have now been removed, had highlighted the benefits of offshore grid co-ordination.

She added: “How strange is this? National Grid themselves were promoting the benefits of going offshore.

“Now, they have completely removed this evidence from their website. All this needs to be investigated by Ofgem – and now.”

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