Campaigners opposing East Anglian pylons highlight views they'll lose
180km of new cables are planned, stretching from Norwich to Essex, via Ipswich
Campaigners opposed to the creation of a line of pylons stretching 180km through East Anglia have created a map showing the viewpoints that would be damaged by the project.
People from across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have contributed more than 300 cherished viewpoints to the interactive map.
The project – known as East Anglia GREEN – is being proposed by National Grid, who say the pylon route is needed to transport wind energy generated off the Norfolk coast, helping the UK meet its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The line would run from Dunston, just south of Norfolk, down through south Norfolk and into Suffolk and Essex, terminating at Tilbury, on the Thames estuary.
But campaigners from the Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons action group say the scheme would threaten the region’s landscape, and have devised the interactive map as a way of proving how many treasured views would be disturbed by it.
Rosie Pearson, the group’s founder, said: “It is heartening to see, with over 300 much-loved viewpoints already submitted to our map, how much people care about our area.
“East Anglia’s beautiful countryside, heritage landscapes, tourist venues and wonderful footpaths must be fully assessed for the impact of towering, 50-metre high, pylons.
“We will be sending the map to the Planning Inspectorate and to National Grid.”
Ms Pearson said National Grid had left “huge unassessed gaps” along the route, by identifying only 41 viewpoints to receive impact assessments.
A spokesman for the company said they remained interested in hearing about other viewpoints which could be affected by the project.
He said: “We have submitted a request to the Planning Inspectorate to help scope and identify technical environmental information to support our East Anglia GREEN proposal.
“As part of our initial scoping, we identified 41 locations for viewpoint assessments.
“We are now asking local authorities to provide further recommendations based on local expertise.
“We expect the final list, which will support our environmental assessment, to be longer.
“This process is being managed by the Planning Inspectorate who will now consult with stakeholders including local authorities, Natural England and English Heritage before publishing a report on their website.”
The Inspectorate has asked local councils to make their submissions by December 5.