Aldeburgh energy protest attended by Rick Wakeman in Suffolk

Famous faces, including former Yes band star Rick Wakeman, joined new Suffolk Coastal MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter for the rally on Aldeburgh beach on Sunday, which was organised by action group Suffolk Energy Action Solutions (SEAS).

The event took place near the famous Scallop sculpture, created by artist Maggi Hambling, which was adorned with caution tape and banners proclaiming that an "offshore grid is best".

READ MORE: Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Suffolk MP on National Grid plans

Maggi Hambling's Scallop sculpture was adorned with banners (Image: Submitted) Road closure and diversion signs had also been set up in front of the sculpture.

The campaigners are particularly concerned about energy firm National Grid's plans to develop a substation at Friston and converter station at Saxmundham to receive cabling from offshore wind farms, which they say will cause damage to the countryside.

A number of energy projects are in the pipeline, including the Sea Link cable, to take power from wind farms to Suffolk and Kent, LionLink, which will connect Suffolk and the Netherlands and Nautilus, bringing wind farm power to the UK and Belgium.

READ MORE: CPRE report into Norwich to Tilbury pylons calls for halt

SEAS is backing the creation of an offshore grid to take cabling, which the group says would reduce the need for onshore infrastructure.

Rick Wakeman performs at the Aldeburgh rally (Image: Submitted) During her speech, Mrs Riddell-Carpenter called for "common sense" in planning energy infrastructure, with cabling brought closer to where the demand is and brownfield sites used instead of greenfield.

Fiona Gilmore, from SEAS, said: "She spoke eloquently and to have such a dynamic MP who is prepared to come and stand on a platform with us. That is tremendous.

READ MORE: Aldeburgh news

"Obviously, what she said was really good. Common sense says that we should be looking at brownfield sites."

As well as Mr Wakeman, other celebrities present included the actress Diana Quick, who starred in TV series Brideshead Revisited, while there was a speech by Adam Rowlands, from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), who is based at the nearby RSPB North Warren nature reserve.

Former Suffolk Coastal MP Lord Deben was also present and spoke.

Attendees came from Friston, Saxmundham and Walberswick, among other places.

Ms Gilmore said she hoped the Government would re-evaluate the infrastructure plans and "see the bigger picture," despite Chancellor Rachel Reeves committing to building pylons on the Norwich to Tilbury route prior to the general election.

These pylons will also carry power from wind farms and are part of the so-called Great Grid Upgrade.

"I think we will need fewer pylons, but where those pylons go needs to be reassessed. They should be going towards London and the centre of demand," Ms Gilmore added.