MP urges residents to get involved in National Grid consultation

Following on from the news that National Grid have announced their plans to consult on the energy connections scheme. Tim has reiterated his call for residents to get involved in the consultation and make sure that pylons are not all over the South Lakes.

Consultation is expected to start in early September. People are encouraged to register their details on the North West Coast Connections project website now to ensure they get regular updates on the project: www.northwestcoastconnections.com.

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 in addition to routes going:
• 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.

That protects the Lakes 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 on the Cartmel Peninsula the thumbs down.

There is potential for the onshore parts of the routes to follow the path of existing lower voltage power lines operated by Electricity North West. It is also possible that some of these lines could be removed if the new high voltage lines follow the same path.

People can also register for text alerts by texting 'NWCC' to 80800 to receive notification when information about the project becomes available.

For any other enquiries, please contact the project team direct using any of the following methods:

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

Tim said: "Our work over the last five years has made a big difference, we have worked with National Grid and have convinced them that they should not ruin a world class landscape with the connections scheme. I'm delighted they've listened, but it's vital that residents get involved in the consultation in the autumn and we finish the job!

"I have always worried that if we see large amounts of new cabling and pylons being built across the countryside, it would be a damaging blow to our world class landscape. It looks like that will not be the case. I would urge local residents to join in the consultation and keep pylons out of the National Park!"