 |
| The proposed route of the overhead power lines |
PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak has offered an assurance that the opinions of affected residents will be taken into account before any decision is made on a proposed 87-mile stretch of electricity line pylons through much of rural Lincolnshire.
In response to a question in the Commons from Cleethorpes and Immingham MP Martin Vickers, he declared: "My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise the concerns of his constituents.
"He will recognise the balance we need to strike by making sure that we give our country the energy security it needs but doing it in a way that is respectful of the impact on local communities.
"I will make sure that ministers take into account the concerns he raised and that all the views of local constituents are taken into account."
Mr Vickers' appeal, moments earlier, had been for at least some of the lines to be installed underground.
At yesterday's Questions to the Prime Minister, he said: "The Prime Minister will be aware of plans by National Grid to build a network of 50-metre-high pylons through much of rural Lincolnshire.
"This is causing much consternation, particularly in rural villages.
"Can my right hon. Friend assure my residents that when ministers finally consider the consultations that come forward from National Grid, they will give sympathetic consideration to putting some of the sections underground?"
Ironically, the exchange came at the same time that the charity Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue was being called out to a stricken whooper swan that had apparently collided in flight with overhead lines at West Halton, near Scunthorpe.
Sadly, X-rays revealed that its injuries - including a fractured pelvis - were sufficiently serious for the bird to be put down to spare it continuing pain and distress.
 |
| Unable either to walk of fly - the doomed swan is thought to have collided with an overhead line on its migration flight to breeding grounds in Iceland. Photo: Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue |
No comments:
Post a Comment