Help protect the South Lakes - get involved in National Grid consultation

National Grid is halfway through its programme of consultation events on plans to connect new sources of electricity generation into 'the grid' in Cumbria and Lancashire. Tim has urged everyone who hasn't had the opportunity to get involved so far in the consultation to make sure their voice is heard.

Almost 1,000 people have visited events so far to meet members of the North West Coast Connections project team and discuss the proposals.

National Grid has been asked to provide a connection into the electricity transmission system for the proposed new nuclear power station, Moorside, near Sellafield in West Cumbria and to export the power generated by other new energy projects in the North West.

After a 5 year campaign to protect the Lakes, Tim was able to make sure that National Grid's 'emerging preference' at the current point in the project is for routes going:

• onshore north from Moorside to a point on the existing network at Harker, near Carlisle
• onshore south from Moorside across the Barrow Peninsula and through a tunnel under Morecambe Bay which would come up near Heysham in Lancashire to connect into the existing network.

These routes would protect the Lake District National Park from massive pylons but National Grid will also be seeking views on routes offshore through the Irish Sea to the south of Moorside and also overland around the South Lakes. However, there are specific environmental and technical challenges associated with both of these routes. Tim is asking local residents to get involved and give the idea of any scheme going through the national park and the Cartmel Peninsula the thumbs down.

Tim said: "Over the last five years we have worked incredibly closely with National Grid and our lobbying has convinced them to prefer a plan that protects South Lakeland and our beautiful landscape from massive pylons and wires. We must not take this for granted and keep working to make sure the preference becomes the solution. I would urge all local residents to join in the consultation and keep pylons out of the National Park!"

For more information about the project and future consultation events please contact the project team direct using any of the following methods:

• Freephone: 0800 876 6990
• Email: nationalgrid@northwestcoastconnections.com
• Freepost: Freepost NG NWCC