Countywide opposition was agreed as the strongest way to respond to National Grid's proposed pylon plans by the county council’s cabinet this week.

A report recommending that Suffolk County Council lead the opposition to proposed pylon plans was presented to cabinet today by Councillor Guy McGregor, and was supported by a representative from the community interest groups opposed to the plans.

The current proposal from National Grid for an Electricity Transmission Line running between Bramford and Twinstead is to partially bury the transmission line in two separate areas, whilst the rest will remain above ground as pylons.

The county council is urging National Grid to make significant adaptations to their current proposal by burying the entire transmission line underground.

John Foster, spokesman for the community interest groups against National Grid’s pylon plans spoke at cabinet outlining the strong opposition felt by members:

“Local people fervently and rationally believe that the quality of their lives, of their communities, of those who work, visit or pass through their countryside will be so much worse if this current proposal goes ahead.

“National Grid has so far selected only conflicting or unsubstantiated responses from residents for comment in its latest report. Rational, well researched submissions from united communities have gone unremarked.

“We welcome the council’s report and ask that they continue to oppose, without ambiguity or qualification, National Grid’s ill-reasoned and shoddily prepared and presented proposal.”

Councillor Guy McGregor, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member responsible for planning said:

“This has been a hot topic for local people for over two years and I have received the full backing of the council’s cabinet to press forward with leading the fight against Suffolk’s iconic landscapes being littered with pylons.

“The report presented to cabinet received powerful reinforcement and support from the community interest groups opposed to the pylon plans, which strengthens the need for a united and comprehensive response to Nation Grid’s proposals.

“This could be a historic moment- the point at where the march of the pylons was halted. It is vitally important that we stand up for Suffolk’s countryside.

“So far the consultation process has not focused on the socio economic impact of the proposals and I look forward to working alongside local MPs, our colleagues in the district & borough councils, community interest groups and individuals in putting together a strong opposition to these proposals.”