Burnham-On-Sea’s MP has this week urged residents who think they will be affected by plans to build a new 400,000 volt power line through our area to contact him.
As first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com last month, the National Grid has been asked to connect the proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point to a new sub-station at Avonmouth near Bristol – a distance of 37 miles.
David Heathcoat-Amory said on Monday (November 23rd) he had met bosses from National Grid and discussed how to minimise the impact of the pylons on the landscape.
One of the proposed options, called Corridor 2, (shown on the map above) would depart from the existing line of pylons and cross the Somerset levels to the East of the M5 corridor.
The pylons would be 150 feet tall, and could replace the existing smaller line close to the M5 if the corridor option 1 were chosen instead.
Mr Heathcoat-Amory told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I do not see the case for Corridor 2, which would loop out into the Somerset levels and affect hundreds of houses, as well as being an unacceptable intrusion into the landscape.”
“I also want National Grid to explore putting a least part of the new line underground. It is essential that local opinion is taken fully into account, which is why the Conservative Party opposed the Infrastructure Planning Commission, which will take the final decision.”
“I am planning to attend a public meeting to hear local views, and I ask all those who might be affected to contact me. I will be making further representations to National Grid and if necessary raising the matter in the House of Commons.”
