Edward has meet with representatives of National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) in Parliament to discuss the potential impact of their proposals on rural communities north and east of Melton, following his call on them last month to meet to provide further details.
In the useful meeting, NGET set out the likely timelines for the proposals, with a decision on them not expected until c. 2029, and their planned consultation with local communities, as well as running through details of the proposed 400,000 volt new overhead powerlines and pylons, and the proposed new substation near Wartnaby/ Saxelbye to connect the new lines up to the existing high-voltage network running north-south in Leicestershire. Edward took the opportunity to press the NGET team to engage in open and genuine consultation with local residents, communities, and Parish Councils in the months and years ahead. He highlighted that while people would recognise the need for the energy infrastructure and Grid on which we all rely, to be resilient and upgraded to continue to do the job, these proposals come with potentially significant impact on a number of rural villages, communities, farmland, and the picturesque local countryside.
Edward said: "I am grateful to the NGET Project Team for their time and engagement in meeting me, to provide further details of both their proposals, but of their consultation. I took the opportunity to highlight to them the local concerns that I know many will have, the importance of genuine on-going engagement and consultation with local people and communities, and that I would be submitting an initial response to their Stage 1 Consultation, highlighting a number of local concerns and questions at this early stage. I will continue to take a very close interest in this project on behalf of my constituents in the months and years ahead."
