'Protect our landscape when connecting to the grid' - Tim presses National Grid not to build new cables over countryside

South Lakes MP, Tim Farron, met with representatives from National Grid, to discuss the 6 options that have been laid out for connecting sites along the West Coast, including Sellafield and offshore windfarms, to the main grid.

At the meeting Tim lobbied Senior Project Manager, Peter Fendley to make sure that any new connections do not go over land, damaging the natural environment or the local landscapes of the South Lakes.

Tim opposed plans to cables above ground through the Cartmel Peninsula or through the Eden and Lune Valleys, which were proposed in options 3 and 5 respectively. Instead, Tim encouraged National Grid to favour option 4, which proposes to lay cabling below the sea bed across the Irish sea, bypassing Morecambe Bay. Tim argues that this would have this least impact on the local communities, protecting the visual landscape.

Commenting Tim said: "I very much welcome National Grid's efforts to seek our views. Its really important that that the communities that will be affected by works to connect the North West Coast to the main grid are fully listened to.

"If we see large amounts of new cabling and pylons being build across the countryside, it would be a damaging blow to our world class landscape. However, if National Grid chooses to take option 4, as I have argued, which goes under the sea, then for not much extra expense they will ensure protection for our landscape and the surrounding environment."