There are growing fears that new electricity pylons could soon be seen stretching across the East Anglian countryside – from the north Norfolk coast, to near Ipswich and beyond. Also that an agreement to put much of the new electricity cable from Bramford to Twinstead, in Essex, underground could be reversed in a cost-cutting measure when it is installed in the next 10 years.

National Grid’s proposal to reinforce the grid between Bramford and Twinstead in Essex is to enable them to export 15Gwatt from Suffolk, an increase from 4.5Gwatt at the moment.  The scheme appears much the same as was proposed  back in 2012  but with an additional 400kvolt pylon line running beside the existing line after the  smaller 132 kvolt line is removed.

Clearly the power from North Sea wind farms must get to areas where demand is highest and that is in London.  There will be a similar need if Sizewell C is approved.  We do need low carbon energy if the world is to avoid a catastrophic rise in sea level, but it can’t be at any cost.

It is possible to build a power distribution system under the North Sea down the Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex coast and up the Thames.  The main problem is the legislation that controls who would have to build such a grid.

We have campaigned before for underground cables and against new pylons and overhead cables across our beautiful Suffolk countryside and our natural habitats. We will campaign again.

We are in for another round of consultations at the end of March and another fight!