Three councils have come together to voice concerns over a controversial proposal to build more than 100 miles of pylons across the region, as a public consultation has opened.
Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk county councils have hit out at the Norwich to Tilbury project, previously known as East Anglia Green, which will see a 400kV electricity transmission line built between Norwich and Tilbury, running a distance of 111 miles.
This comes as National Grid has launched an eight-week non-statutory consultation period allowing anyone to share their thoughts on the project, which will be made up of overhead line and pylons, along with some underground cables and a new substation.
Cllr Richard Rout (Image: Suffolk County Council)
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for finance and environment, said: "We must be looking to a coordinated offshore centred approach to energy transmission in the UK.
"Given our long-term energy security goals and the infrastructure that will be required, simply installing more pylons, and digging trenches cannot be the only viable solution.
"We will continue to stand strong on behalf of all the communities who will be affected by these proposals."
READ MORE: Campaigners accuse National Grid of 'arrogance' over pylon consultation
The new consultation has revealed the route for the pylons and shows the line will run underground through the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Essex-Suffolk border.
The three councils, all of which raised concerns to the initial consultation last year, are also being consulted on the proposals as statutory consultees.
Cllr Lesley Wagland (Image: Will Durrant)
Cllr Lesley Wagland, Essex County Council cabinet member for economic renewal, infrastructure and planning, said: "We remain fully committed to our net-zero ambitions and fully appreciate this involves building the infrastructure to connect renewable energy sources to the National Grid.
"However, we and our partner councils believe this can be far better, and sustainably, achieved by viable alternative means, and without the detrimental impact to our residents, businesses and the local environment that would be caused by the current proposals."
Cllr Graham Plant (Image: Jamie Honeywood
Archant
Norwich
Norfolk)
Councillor Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council’s cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: "While fully supporting the offshore wind energy sector and decarbonising the electricity transmission network, Norfolk County Council feel that alternative options to overhead power lines need to be fully investigated.
"In particular, the County Council, in line with our recently endorsed Climate Strategy, strongly feel that an offshore transmission option needs further consideration by both National Grid and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero."
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