Norwich to Tilbury pylon plan public hearing dates announced

Hearings over controversial pylon plans will start next month <i>(Image: Simon Parkin)</i>
Hearings over controversial pylon plans will start next month (Image: Simon Parkin)
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The dates and venues have been announced for a string of public hearings over controversial plans for miles of pylons over the Norfolk and Suffolk countryside.

A planning inspector will next month start the public examination into National Grid's plans for the Norwich to Tilbury scheme, which would see 114 miles of pylons taking electricity from North Sea wind farms to the Thames Estuary.

The structures would stretch from near Norwich to Tilbury in Essex, with National Grid saying they could power some six million homes and businesses.

But, to go ahead, the project needs to secure a development consent order - a decision which will ultimately rest with the government.

The Planning Inspectorate will consider evidence about the scheme, with almost 4,000 individuals and organisations having registered for the process.

The process will see a number of public hearings where the application will be scrutinised.

The first hearings - on Tuesday, February 10 and 11 - will take place at the ground of Ipswich Town Football Club, but there will be a Norfolk hearing on Thursday, February 12.

That will take place at The Space, in Roundtree Way in Norwich, with registration starting at 10am and the hearing starting at 11am.

There will also be hearings in Essex and all the hearings will be 'blended' - meaning people will be able to attend them virtually.

Critics say the plans will ruin the countryside in areas around Diss and the Waveney Valley.

RoydonRoydon (Image: Mike Page)

Tacolneston, Bracon Ash and Hethel, Bunwell, Swainsthorpe, Bressingham, Hempnall, Roydon and Forncett parish councils are among more than 60 parish councils which have objected.

The Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons group has been campaigning against the pylons.

The group says there are "obvious better options" to the pylons, including taking the cables underground or via an offshore grid.

National Grid officials say an offshore grid would be more expensive and take longer than the proposed onshore route.

The examination process, including the public hearings, is likely to last up to six months.

Energy secretary Ed MilibandEnergy secretary Ed Miliband (Image: PA)

The inspectorate will then make a recommendation to energy secretary Ed Miliband, who will have the final say.

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