Shadow Minister Labels Proposed Pylons ‘Carbuncles’

A recently appointed shadow minister has expressed opposition to the construction of pylons in Lincolnshire, advocating for the government to explore offshore or subterranean cabling alternatives. Victoria Atkins, who represents Louth and Horncastle as an MP, stated her “delight” at her appointment as shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs by the new Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch. She characterized the government’s proposed pylon deployment as “carbuncles” that would negatively impact local communities. National Grid, the entity planning a pylon corridor from Grimsby to Walpole in Norfolk, has estimated the cost of these structures at approximately £1bn. This contrasts with an estimated £6.5bn for underground installation and £4.3bn for an offshore subsea cable. According to plans unveiled by the preceding Conservative government, these pylons are intended to transmit green energy produced in Scotland to the south-east of the country, traversing a section of Lincolnshire. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had previously indicated that proposals for overground pylons would be necessary to ensure more affordable electricity. Nevertheless, Lincolnshire County Council has issued a threat of legal action to prevent the construction of the pylons. Atkins stated: “I’m against these carbuncles being plonked on our undeveloped coastlines, particularly in my constituency of Louth and Horncastle, and it has a real life impact on people in the Alford area, but along the coastline as well.” She also commented that the government’s six-year timeline for building the pylons was “completely unrealistic.” Atkins further added: “We are arguing that we should set up a second grid offshore or look at underground options to get the supply down to the south of England where it’s intended to be.” She continued, “They’ve done this elsewhere in the United Kingdom so my query to government is, why are they treating Lincolnshire differently? Why should we expect to be treated in a different way from let’s say the good residents of Scotland or Yorkshire?” In April, the energy provider revealed plans for two cables to extend 400 miles (644km) across the North Sea seabed from Scotland to England, making landfall at Anderby Creek. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero had previously stated that without pylons, the government would “never deliver clean power for the British people.” It also noted the existence of “additional grid capacity in the Lincolnshire area, which can be used to connect new renewable projects.”