Somerset County Council has this week rejected calls from protestors demanding a judicial review into National Power’s controversial proposals to build a line of 46-metre tall electricity pylons across the Somerset countryside near Burnham-On-Sea.
Councillors from across the county gathered on Wednesday (February 17th) to debate the controversial scheme to introduce the pylons between Avonmouth and Hinkley Point.
National Grid’s consultation exercise was criticised for excluding many local people and the council called for the firm to make all relevant information available for a new consultation, which is due to start soon.
Protestors had called for a judicial review into the consultation, although the county council ruled it out, saying it would be too costly.
The council report also noted the consultation period was carried out over the holiday period and the proposal was “premature” since the government was undergoing a national energy review. It also added that on environmental grounds alone, the proposals were “unacceptable”.
National Grid is currently examining feedback from the public after a 14-week consultation. It says a full proposal will not be ready until 2011.
