Sir John Whittingdale welcomes the establishment of a review of the options for new grid connections in East Anglia, which will include the possibility of an offshore transmission route, having previously expressed his concern at the potential impact a new line of 400kV pylons would have on the countryside and local environment. Particularly in Margaretting, which is the proposed area that the lines would pass through in the constituency.
Last year John joined other East Anglia MPs in writing to the previous Minister for Energy, Greg Hands, which was followed by a meeting with the Minister, where they expressed their concerns and disappointment that an offshore option was not being proposed.
John said:
“It is good news that this review has now been established, and I hope that there will now be a thorough examination of the relative costs both of the different options in East Anglia, as well as in comparison with those chosen in other parts of the UK.
It is also essential that the review is future-proofed to take account not just of existing generating capacity but also developments going forward such as a possible new nuclear power station at Bradwell-on-Sea”.
