APC Statement to Pylons Planning Inspectorate
Mike Lambert - APC Chair made a statement on our behalf to Planning Inspectorate relating to Pylons between Norwich and Tilbury.
Text from Mike's statement is as follows:-
ID F846B07C2 Statement by Mike Lambert, on behalf of Aldham Parish Council
Aldham is a small village, 4.5 miles west of Colchester, with a stable population of 490, meaning residents have strong connections to their local environment.
25% of Aldham’s population is over 65, compared to a national average of 16% (2011 Census). Older residents spend more time in their village and will be more adversely affected, particularly by the construction phase, impacting on a significant proportion of their remaining time with us.
Aldham would host 4.7km of OH line (2.61 % of the total), and 12 pylons, which would dissect the Parish. Pylons will encircle our village, and with OH lines, form an intrusive feature in the landscape.
These damaging proposals will cause harm to interests of acknowledged importance. Of the 225 listed buildings identified in the Scoping Report, Aldham has a disproportionate 19 or 8 per cent. There are a further 20 listed buildings just outside the scoping corridor, but in the Parish, including some Grade 1 and Ford Street Conservation Area.
Our Grade II* Listed Church is the tallest building in the village at 30m, including the weather cock. The 12 pylons will all be 50% taller, dwarfing the spire and adversely affecting the setting of the building. The church and surrounding trees have been in place since 1855, but the trees still do not ‘screen’ it. So how could new planting be expected to hide 50m pylons?
The village sits on prominent higher land between the Colne Valley and Roman River Valley. The Colne Valley is a Valued Landscape within North Essex and as such should be protected from inappropriate development. The Roman River Valley to the south is less prominent in topography but when looking south from PRoWs crossing the Marks Tey-Sudbury Branch Line is a predominantly natural landscape with no significant buildings or structures in view, an unusual feature in North Essex and one that should be protected. Without prejudice to the Parish Council’s objection, in the event the Order is confirmed there should be much more protection to these landscapes replacing lost trees and hedging at a much higher than one for one ratio.
The impact on habitat, landscape, biodiversity and residential amenity will be devastating both during the 4-5 years of construction, and in the longer term, from the visual intrusion.
Construction will close 8 of our 19 Public Rights of Way (PRoW), equating to 7000m of ProW. Pylons will be visible from EVERY one of the 19 PRoWs and all will be harmed and suffer loss of amenity.
Several businesses in the village rely on tourism, leisure and the character of the village, eg. the Shoulder of Mutton Tea Room, the 100 year old Crapes Fruit Farm, and other rural enterprises. All are predicated on the natural beauty and special character of the area and all will be harmed by the proposed pylons, especially during construction.
Aldham Parish Council supports the case presented by Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylon Group arguing that National Grid is unable to follow or comply with the Holford Rules (s2, 3, 4 & 5).
Statutory Consultation has been predetermined and only the single option of OH lines has ever been presented. This falls foul of the Gunning Principles.
We are concerned that minimal opportunity has been given during the Examination to considering whether there were better options available to NG and request this is reviewed given the strength of opposition and the evidence presented on alternatives.
Consultation fatigue has inevitably affected our residents, who are worn down by the sheer volume of material and technicalities being presented. Despite all the consultation engagement residents have spent time on, there has been little change achieved.
This has been a procedural process not meaningful engagement i.e. Decide-Announce-Defend not Engage-Discuss-Decide.
National Grid has now ruled out alternative pylon designs leaving no meaningful mitigation measure available. An examination of the Outline Code of Construction Practice - reference to be provided, (ENO20027–000187-7.2) indicates that working hours will be 10-12 hours a day, 7 days a week with scope for a wide range of activity outside these hours, which will cause unacceptable disturbance. GG30 in Table 6.1 gives insufficient guarantee of a proactive dialogue between contractors and residents or the Parish Council. Without prejudice to the Council’s objection, in the event the Order is confirmed the Code should include a commitment to establishing a formal Liaison Forum with each Parish affected by the development and a requirement to have regular dialogue and up to date information on construction progress and timetable. An obligation to provide funding to the LPAs should also be included to ensure sufficient resources for adequate monitoring and enforcement.
Community benefits have not been defined and discounts to energy bills cannot compensate for either the short term or long term physical impacts.
If Government is serious about green energy for the 21st century, then it must be delivered with 21st century green infrastructure and that means an integrated offshore solution.
Aldham Parish Council and our community hereby support, endorse and adopt mutatis mutandis the submissions made by the Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons Action Group.
Thank you