Reform UK leaders in Lincolnshire are firmly opposing the construction of a new overhead electricity line proposed by National Grid. Their revised plan details an 87-mile route between Grimsby and Walpole and includes ‘low height’ pylons on a specific stretch. This proposition has stirred unease about its potential impact on the Lincolnshire countryside.
In a unified statement, Lincolnshire mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns, county council leader Sean Matthews, and Boston and Skegness MP Richard Tice all said the scheme prioritises cost over environmental impact and could have a ‘devastating impact’ on the region. National Grid, however, has emphasised its collaboration with local communities to ‘shape the plans and minimise the impact on the local landscape’.
The new plans propose reducing pylon heights from 50m to 40m over a 4.3-mile section through the Lincolnshire Wolds, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The Reform party leaders have implored National Grid to reconsider the plan and propose less intrusive alternatives, stressing that ‘Lincolnshire will not be a dumping ground for outdated and ugly infrastructure, nor for net-zero projects.’
National Grid’s justification for the £1.6bn cost of the pylon scheme is that it’s a cheaper option compared to the costs of an underground cable (£4.8bn) or a subsea cable (£4.2bn). The preceding Conservative administration of Lincolnshire County Council pointed the finger at the company for a lack transparency concerning costs and summoned energy regulator Ofgem to withdraw the plans.
A spokesperson from National Grid stressed the insufficiency of the current electricity network in meeting increasing electricity demands. They added that the Grimsby to Walpole project could reduce electricity bills since the overhead line proposal is more cost-effective. A public consultation on the plans is due to run from June 11 to August 6.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
