Take Action!
PLEASE DO IT NOW
GATHER UP every member of your household to do the same. Friends and family can join in as well.
READ the information on the many linked websites
Secretary of State at the Dept for Energy & Climate Change, 3-8 Whitehall Place, London, SW12 2HH.
The consultation deadline has passed BUT make sure you are heard, write or email straight away. Click below for a template-letter to make it easier. Just add your own words and comments – then print and send (or copy and paste into an email hinkleyconnection@uk.ngrid.com. M
ake sure you mention that the consultation process has been inadequate.
Here is some of comments and points raised by other campaigners. You may want to consider these points for your letter.
- Flawed and inadequate consultation process. If you did not receive a letter then mention this too!
- The ‘Consultation’ Exhibition was poorly advertised, the personnel answering questions were ill-informed, there was little informative literature particularly regarding health concerns, information that was given was inconsistent and often confusing.
- Personnel would not be drawn on any routing discussion other than the two options listed as either route 1 or 2.
- Unable to respond to a Public Consultation as not given the required information about factors that have a material effect on the scheme.
- No information was available on costings of the other options.
- The period for consultation is inappropriate as it encompasses the Christmas postal deadline (21st December deadline), Christmas itself and also New Year.
- The discussion of route options at the public exhibition was very dictatorial. This suggested that NG had closed its mind to any other option and also appeared to be driven by corporate profits and return, as opposed to an open and fair representation and consideration of the alternative route options.
- NG has a duty under Section 9 of the Electricity Act 1989, Section 38 and Schedule 9 of the Act “to have regard to the desirability of preserving amenity”
- NG has a duty under Schedule 9 of the Electricity Act 1989, Schedule 9 to have regard to the “…desirability of preserving natural beauty…”
- The height of the pylons will make them very visible over long distances due to the flat and unique environment of the Somerset levels.
- Aircraft warning lights may be required to the pylons adding light pollution to the major open views.
- It is wrong to site pylons through an Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB)
- Sections of the Somerset Levels border an AONB and the pylons “would dominate unspoilt landscape and cause serious damage to major open views of spectacular panoramas…. and skylines”. We therefore believe that the entire Somerset Levels area should be considered as one of an “Exceptionally Constrained Rural Area”
- Due to the flat landscape of the Somerset Levels there is no suitable topography to disguise or hide the pylons
- The pylons will dominate the landscape and be taller than local landmarks including the churches.
- Trees will be unable to screen them from view due to their height of 46.5m
- Unproved, as yet, links between electromagnetic fields (EMF) and increased childhood leukemia.
- A cross party commission recommended in 2007 that all high voltage power lines and pylons be sited at least 200m away from schools, nurseries and children
- The Draper study 2005 indicates a ‘potential’ link between pylons and increased childhood leukemia.
- Professor Henshaw’s ongoing research into ‘corona ions’ and ‘corona discharge’ where charged ions are thought to attach themselves to air-pollutants and are breathed in by residents within 600m of power lines. .
- House prices in the area will be reduced if pylons are installed.
- Tourists to the area may be put off from visiting due to the pylons, further reducing potential income to the area from tourism.
- We believe the alternative routing options of a submarine HVDC route up the Severn directly to Seabank from the proposed Hinkley C has been dismissed without a correct and detailed cost benefit analysis study being completed in favour of a ‘cheaper’ over-land option..