North Somerset caught in pincer by pylons

Are the pylons a necessary evil - or do you like the metalic giants stradling our countryside. Shall be start a campaign to stop them being build on green fields or shall I shut up and get off my soapbox - well?

The meeting at Backwell was just an exhibition by the National Grid.  Our beautiful valley will be ruined by these gigantic pylons and there are associated health risks .Falls in property values all across Nailsea , Wraxall and Backwell are inevitable. How can anyone let this happen?  Imagine Backwell Lake with 160 foot high pylons beside it. Wraxall school will be very close to the pylons and any parents with children there should get involved immediately.  We only have a very short time to fight this so lets get on with it!

I am stuck with only being allowed, as a councillor on a planning committee to ask questions.
What needs to be answered will include:
1. Why can the cables not be buried in sea. We hear excuses about dredging but that is limited to certain areas and with GPS even a dredger can about certain areas if required.
2. The route between Nailsea and Backwell is part of the Forest of Avon and includes the lake beauty spot. Long term it may be prone to flooding.
3. North Somerset is very specific about keeping pylons away from its schools, hospitals and retirement homes.
4. Pylons on the Rhyne View area need to be moved away from people. Can the TWO lines of pylons be merged and moved?
5. Why are so many professionals from the nuclear industry expressing technical worries?

I seem to remember the words 'Government of the people, for the people and by the people'. I am sure the people have a lot more sense that government gives us credit for.

This is a very very worrying issue for a lot of people. If this Backwell, Nailsea & Wraxall pylon route goes ahead Nailsea will be surrounded by overhead electricity wire and ugly pylons of well over 150 foot high. The effect on the regions wild life will be enormous, the countryside will be spoilt forever - and - extremely concerning - your health will be greatly put at risk.

These wires will carry 400,000 volts! And yet they plan for these monsters to come within 200 yards of many residential properties in the area. They'll tell you that there is no health risk at 100 yards because it is in their interest to tell you that. But many eminent scientists and professors believe the safety margin distant should be well over 500/600 yards! OK - whilst this figure is not unanimously agreed by all in the scientific establishment, it should also be recognised that neither is the less than 100 yards figure bandied about by bodies such as the Nation Grid totally accepted by scientists. And of course the Government do not recognise or accept that electromagnetic field are health threatening - they choose to ignore anything that does not fit into their plans or policies (I won't mention the recent embarrassment surrounding Professor Nut!).

If this route goes ahead Nailsea and the surrounding environs will become a non-desirable area to live or work in, and our quality of life will be impaired Forever. Just think about it. SOV

Anyone who joins the Save our Valley campaign should understand that by doing so they are effectively campaigning for the adoption of route 1a, which also impacts on wildlife and Nailsea residents.

I agree with CPJones1 that neither route is acceptable.

I agree that joining the Campaign is Corridor 1 biased and that neither route is acceptable. I have written to National Grid to complain that by proposing two options, it is unfair on the community. I mean, what are we supposed to say and do? We are relatively new to Nailsea, and having lived around the country throughout my life, the people here are amongst some of the friendliest I have ever encountered. The arguments throughout this process must be directed towards National Grid to put the line UNDERGROUND.... NOT to threaten to divide the community with overhead options. This is very poor community PR.

This is 21st Century and to be even discussing overhead lines is ludicrous. Too high a cost?? We live in an environmental conscious age - finance should no longer be an issue. If it means putting a few pence on the electricity bills, so be it. This would a win-win-win situation: the landscape is left unspoilt, energy is saved and National Grid exceed their statutory rights.

And Nailsea/Backwell/Wraxall become an even stronger community as a result.

Sorry SaveOurValley - The position you are  adopting is let us go for the least bad option from what we have been presented with.  I think there is a case to be made that there is an alternative route that has not been fully presented or consulted upon.

I have read your website - While I have no issue with your stated aims as a group, even thought I think those aims are flawed, it ought to be very clear what you are asking Nailsea residents to support and why - It is my reading that as a group you favour Route 1.

I also disagree that consultation is about numbers, if that were true then this would simply be a vote.

Whilst I don't disagree with battypersona in wanting to oppose both routes what I think he or she has maybe not fully grasped is that if the cables are layed beneath the water from Hinkley to Avonmouth or underground the people living to the west and north of Nailsea will still be living beneath or near electricity wires and pylons. They will remain in situ. If corridor two is chosen the same will apply - the existing infrastructure will stay exactly where it is. Those residents in the west & north need to be clear as to exactly what they are fighting for. I too would prefer the new cables to be beneath the water, I don't want them anywhere near Nailsea, nor Backwell or Wraxall either. I certainly do not desire them near where I live so I will fight for what I strongly believe in and I have every right to do so. Wouldn't you? So I think it unfair to "attack" the SOV campaign. I believe they have taken a considered approach to the issue and have looked at all the options open to Nailsea and surrounding population. They have duly faced reality and have shaped their policy accordingly.