Campaigners say they're "not giving up" as action takes place along the 112-mile pylon route
They're encouraging residents to submit their views on the proposed Norwich to Tilbury pylon route before the deadline on the 27th November.
Communities across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk are preparing a coordinated day of events today (Saturday 15th November) to encourage residents to submit their views on the proposed Norwich to Tilbury pylon route.
The plans come from members of the Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk Pylons Action Group, who say they hope to “galvanise” people into registering with the Planning Inspectorate before the 27 November deadline.
Rosie Pearson, founder of the campaign group, said villages “up and down the 112 miles that will be affected” are taking part.
“On the 15th, we have villages up and down the 112 miles that will be affected by National Grid pylons coming together to host lots of different events because this is a really important time for communities,” she said.
“On the 27th of November, it's the last date when people can register to tell the Planning Inspectorate, that's the government department, what they think about pylons.”
Tractor rallies, drone photos and coffee mornings
A long list of villages along the proposed route have confirmed events.
“In Suffolk, we've got the village of Cotton with a tractor rally and coffee and cakes in Aldham,” Ms Pearson said.
“In Essex, there's going to be a photo shoot and a stall where you can ask questions at the Christmas fair. Holton St Mary, there's going to be a drone photograph of the affected countryside with people protesting. And in Mellis in Suffolk, there's going to be a meeting.”
She said campaigners will also be leafletting, hosting coffee mornings, walking village routes in campaign T-shirts and organising group photos for upload to social media.
“Really what people are doing is coming together up and down the whole route to try and remind people that it really, really matters to have their say about the pylons,” she said.
The group’s Facebook page has around 6,000 supporters, though Ms Pearson said the number of residents who received letters last year from National Grid about the project was “enormous”.
“National Grid wrote to 77,000 households last year,” she said. “The number of people affected by the pylons is just phenomenal.”
Campaigners say they will “fight to the bitter end”
Ms Pearson said campaigners remain committed to challenging the plans through formal channels, including the courts if necessary.
“We're definitely not giving up,” she said.
“We know already that there's a little hoop that the inspector has just sort of let National Grid through, which we disagree with, and that's about whether their consultation has been adequate.
“We have already let the Inspectorate know that we are very likely to challenge on that in the courts. We're not allowed to challenge now… we have to wait to the end of the process.”
She added: “People are donating incredibly generously because they feel so strongly that the plans are stupid and wrong and that East Anglia is really special, really precious and really important to people. And we need to fight to keep it that way.
“We can still have the upgrade of the grid. We're not saying no to the upgrade. We're just saying do it properly.”
“A really uplifting moment”
Ms Pearson said she expects today to be a powerful moment for campaigners.
“It's really uplifting actually,” she said. “It's amazing to see communities come together… it's lovely to feel that we're sort of one region connected all the way down from Norwich to Tilbury across three counties.”
She will be helping at the event in Aldham.
“I'll be out at the Aldham one helping my mother to man the stand there, and we'll be out having a photograph by the church, which is 30 metres high, to show that actually the pylons are 20 metres higher than that, towering over the village,” she said.
Planning Inspectorate response
A spokesperson for the Planning Inspectorate said the application is still at an early stage.
“The Norwich to Tilbury application is still at pre-examination stage and the deadline to register to have your say is November 27th,” they said.
“Following the pre-examination, a six month examination of the application will take place.
“Given the examination is yet to start, it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
Government: “Views of the local community are considered”
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said all new infrastructure must undergo a full planning process.
A spokesperson said:
“We need new infrastructure to protect family and national finances with energy security, through clean homegrown power we control, and connecting new transmission projects will cut down on constraint payments.
“All projects are subject to a rigorous planning process, in which the views and interests of the local community are considered.”
The department added that, because the Secretary of State has a quasi-judicial role in deciding major energy projects, it “cannot comment on specific matters related to any projects”.
National Grid
A spokesperson for National Grid said:
"We've been listening to local communities and representatives over the past three years to help shape our Norwich to Tilbury proposals. Through hundreds of consultation events, online forums, and direct conversations, the project received around 20,000 pieces of community feedback, with numerous changes made to the project.
“The Secretary of State for Energy Security & Net Zero will make the final decision, following a recommendation from the Planning Inspectorate, on whether we have achieved the right balance between environmental considerations and engineering options.”