Replica pylon constructed in Essex village to fight new power line
The parish council's demonstration pylon will serve as a “powerful visual statement” against the proposed power lines in the Eastern region
Last updated 7th Jun 2024
A mini pylon has been installed in Writtle, near Chelmsford, to make residents aware of major electricity plans.
Writtle Parish Council organised the structure in Writtle Green, hoping to highlight the impact of the Norwich to Tilbury pylons on Writtle and its surrounding countryside.
National Grid have proposed a 114 mile-long (184km) power line from Tilbury in Essex to Norwich, to carry electricity from offshore wind farms.
The replica pylon is said to be taller than the surrounding trees and nearly as high as the neighbouring All Saints church tower.
Cllr Ian Nicholls, Chair of Writtle Parish Council, said: “We are deeply concerned about the proposed pylon developments and their effects on the natural beauty and heritage of our village.
“By placing a replica pylon on Writtle Green during our Open Gardens event, we hope to engage our community and visitors in meaningful dialogue about the future of our countryside.”
The local authority is standing with the Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons campaign.
Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons campaigner and Writtle resident Suzanne Bolwell-Davies said: “National Grid’s proposed pylons are enormous. Our beautiful and historic landscapes will be ruined, trees and hedgerows destroyed, and our local lanes clogged with HGV’s for upwards of six years. It is very frustrating that National Grid continues to ignore the better offshore and or the undergrounding options.”
A spokesperson for National Grid said: “Around 41,000 Essex residents living within one kilometre of the proposed route of our Norwich to Tilbury project have received a newsletter with information on our public consultation.
“Our three public consultations have generated a lot of interest, with more than 7000 attendees at 40 in-person events and 17 webinars, with five further webinars planned next month. We have received more than 11,000 pieces of feedback so far, and numerous channels are available for communities and stakeholders to provide their feedback, including by email, letter, and both hard copy and online versions of the feedback form.
“We are very grateful to the local community and stakeholders who have already shared their views with us, and we encourage people to submit feedback until the consultation closes on 26 July.”
The replica pylon will coincide with the village’s Open Gardens event on 16 June.
Writtle Parish Council invites all members of the community to join them before 17 June to witness the installation and participate in conversation about the local environment and future infrastructure.
Residents are urged to respond to National Grid’s statutory consultation which is currently live. Further details can be found at www.nationalgrid.com/norwich-to-tilbury.