IPC boss calls for more options in Somerset pylon row

By Carol_Deacon | Friday, February 26, 2010, 08:31

ALL the jumping up and down about the proposed pylon route through North Somerset appears to have made an impression in high places.

IPC chairman Michael Pitt
Woodspring MP Liam Fox
The overhead pylon route is not the only option

Since the revelations last October that the National Grid wants to link a nuclear power station at Hinkley, near Bridgwater, with an electricity sub-station at Avonmouth, the fallout has been deafening.

Questions have been asked in parliament, a petition sent to No 10, protest marches have been held throughout the county while public and council meetings have been dominated by articulated expressions of outrage.

Woodspring MP Liam Fox said it was the biggest single issue to affect his constituents since he was elected in 1992 and even TV celebrity Carol Vorderman who lives nearby added her voice in protest.

But mostly it was the ‘take it or leave it’ attitude of National Grid when it presented unpalatable land routes - having already ruled out either an underground or subsea option - which mostly angered people.

Householders living near the proposed routes voiced their health and environment fears and the affect on property prices.

But ultimately the decision would be made not the local planning authority or the government minister but the Infrastructure Planning Commission, they were told.

This is an independent newly-formed body which makes decisions on applications for nationally significant infrastructure projects with implications for the economy and vital public services.

Included in this group are the railways, large wind farms, power stations, reservoirs, harbours, airports and sewage treatment works

Dr Fox complained that this ‘unelected and unaccountable’ body would have the final say on the plans by National Grid for nearly 40 miles of high voltage super pylons straddling areas of great natural beauty and cutting through rural communities.

But it has been revealed today (Thursday, February 26) that IPC chairman Sir Michael Pitt has spoken to National Grid UK transmission asset management director Chris Murray of his concerns about the lack of options being given to local people.

Sir Michael drew attention to ‘the strong public reaction’ to the National Grid consultation exercise in Somerset and reminded him of ‘the need to ensure that the consultation exercise is broadly based and addresses a sufficiently wide range of options’.

He also advised NG about ‘the risks of identifying the initial choice of route options and then setting out the case against undergrounding or an undersea route without explaining fully why it should not be taken forward. This approach could be seen…as predetermining the choice of a route(s) and cloud the approach of all to any subsequent consultation’, he said.

It also noted ‘the limited correspondence’ that the IPC has been copied into…and suggests that substantially more work needs to be done to increase the level of understanding in respective communities about the environmental, cost and technical implications of an underground or subsea route.

The IPC spelt out its impersonal approach to the planning application but offered to ‘try to reconcile apparent differences’ while maintaining a neutral stance.

Woodspring MP Liam Fox said: “We welcome and support the IPC’s advice to National Grid that ‘substantially more work needs to be done to increase the level of understanding in the respective local communities about the environmental, cost and technical implications of undergrounding the line and/or the undersea route’.

“I have repeatedly called for a wider consultation on this issue and hope that National Grid will listen to the voices of concern from across North Somerset.

“Big utility companies need to understand that they cannot ride rough shot over the genuine fears of local communities.

“I will continue to raise this with National Grid, the IPC, and in parliament to ensure that the people of North Somerset have their voices heard.”

Further information on the IPC advice can be obtained from clicking HERE.

An umbrella committee called the Nailsea National Grid Action Group has recently been formed locally by councillors, representatives of Save Our Valley and residents from the west of the town.

At present Nailsea people has been given two options.

They are:

Corridor 1 could replace some of the existing power lines to the west of Nailsea in the Causeway area, and

Corridor 2 would build an additional set of lines running south of Nailsea across Youngwood Lane, Backwell Lake, Backwell Common before turning north across Wraxall

During the 14-week consultation period National Grid received more than 2,000 feedback forms, around 1,100 letters and emails, and nearly 100 telephone calls have been received from residents.

Wraxall Parish Council sent in a 100-page report which said going subsea along the Bristol Channel was no more costly.

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In response to the above crititism the National Grid has announced plans to hold a series of events to further explain the background to its proposals for a new overhead electricity line between Bridgwater and Avonmouth. It said in a press release issued on Wednesday: "The first phase of consultation on two potential route corridors for a new overhead line to connect the proposed new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station ended on January 22. Since then the company has been analysing the extensive feedback received from local residents. The 14-week consultation period prompted more than 2000 feedback forms, 1100 emails and letters and 100 telephone calls to the project helpline. Around 4500 people attended the 17 public exhibitions held along the potential routes. From the feedback received, it has become clear that many people would like more information on the background to the project and the other connection options which National Grid considered before publishing its proposals. In particular it is apparent that people want more information about alternatives to overhead power lines, such as underground or subsea cables. National Grid is now planning to publish more information to explain how it arrived at its proposals, and will also provide new opportunities for local people to discuss them with the project team. We will send information to all 37,000 homes within the original consultation area, and hold further briefings to local councils and public information events. Full details of when these events will take place will be announced shortly. National Grid's major project manager David Mercer said: “We are grateful to everyone who responded to our consultation. The opinions of residents are very important to us and will play a vital role in any decisions we make. Since the initial consultation period ended we have been looking at all the feedback and reflecting on the issues it has raised, and it is very clear that people need more information about alternatives to overhead power lines and pylons. In response to these concerns, we have decided to provide both written information and further opportunities for local people to meet the project team, and would welcome further public comments.” A new power line is needed to connect the proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. Depending upon the final route, the new line would be approximately 37 miles long and is planned to be constructed in 2016. National Grid is an international electricity and gas company and one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. We play a vital role in delivering gas and electricity to millions of people across Great Britain and northeastern US in an efficient, reliable and safe manner. We believe the power of action can play a major role in safeguarding our global environment for future generations and tackling the effects of climate change, providing all our customers with the highest standards of service through network investment and through our talented, diverse workforce. National Grid owns the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales and operates the system across Great Britain. It also owns and operates the high pressure gas transmission system in Britain and its distribution business delivers gas to 11 million homes and businesses."

By Carol_Deacon at 14:38 on 04/03/10
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bit of a quandary for Foxy on the one hand the party line is IPC bad and must go while on the other hand looks like they are being quite useful to his cause to ingratiating himself to the voters.

By battypersona at 17:48 on 28/02/10
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Woodspring MP Liam Fox has written to IPC chief executive John Saunders today, Friday, February 26, saying 'I understand from press reports that the IPC is unhappy about the National Grid Consultation relating to the proposed electricity pylons affecting my constituency in North Somerset and others in surrounding areas. I further understand that there has been a proposal for a meeting between interested parties such as the local authorities. While I hope this would include the relevant Members of Parliament, I wish to register strongly my view that this would be no substitute for a further full and proper consultation which would allow all my constituents to make their views known, based on more complete and explicit information about the real alternatives'. Remember you read it on Nailsea People first...

By Carol_Deacon at 11:26 on 26/02/10
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People power has worked to get the attention of the IPC and force National Grid to do more than the bare minimum. However National Grid will still try to get away with just explaining why undersea and underground cables are not an option so we've got a long way to go. Thanks to Carol Deacon & all the Nailsea people who have emailed, written and protested so far. Sue Turner

By SaveOurValley at 10:23 on 26/02/10
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