Minutes 6th February 2024
WELTON LE MARSH PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Extra ordinary meeting held 6th February 2024
Present: Cllrs Williams (Chair); Holiday; Tong; Hardcastle; Crome; Faulkner-Smith & Cladingbowl
Mrs J. Cooper (Parish Clerk)
19 Members of the Public
Prior to the commencement of the meeting, the Chairman outlined the reasons for calling this Extra Ordinary Meeting and the format it would take.
91 APOLOGIES
There were none.
92 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were none
93 NATIONAL GRID PROPOSAL FOR PYLONS IN THE LOCALITY
It was resolved that the Council suspend Standing Orders and Public Speaking Policy to allow full discussion with the public present.
The Chairman outlined the proposal by National Grid to erect 400,000 volt overhead line carried on 50m high pylons and directed the public to the map on display showing the Grimsby to Walpole route. He also advised of ways members of the public could get more information and / or object to the proposal, and gave out dates of two local National Grid Consultation events. Cllr Tong and Holiday had logged on to National Grid’s “Webinar” but found it slanted in favour of National Grid, it was difficult to know what questions the National Grid team were answering and difficult to engage. Cllr Tong also advised that just prior to the commencement of the Webinar he had received an e mail from National Grid advising it was cancelled, followed shortly after by another one advising it was not.
Membrs of the public were told of the local No Pylons Lincolnshire Facebook group and website, and of the Norfolk/Suffolk group who were also fighting similar proposals across their county. That group had received funding to investigate the feasibility and costing for the cabling to be off shore, with off shore sub stations (similar to gas/oil rig platforms) to take power from the wind farms and transfer it along the cable route.
Various questions were asked by the public, including whether the pylons/cables would interfere with wi fi/radio transmissions; the cost of cabling off shore (Cllr Tong advised he had been told by National Grid that the costs were (approx.) overhead £2b; offshore £9b; underground £13b. The Clerk advised that she had heard those figures were subject to a legal challenge and did not include for maintenance and repair to overhead cabling or compensation to householders.
Discussion on the proposed siting of the sub stations also took place, with one being close to Mother Wood in Aby and one between Asserby and Bilsby. However exact siting and sizes were unknown at this stage.
After much discussion between members of the public and councillors, the public were asked if they wished the Parish Council to object as a corporate body, and it was agreed by majority show of hands. The public were also advised, if they wished to object, to do so individually and methods and ways of objecting were handed out.
94 PARISH COUNCIL COMMENTS ON PYLONS
Standing Orders and Public Speaking Policy were reinstated, and some 16 members of the public left the meeting.
It was proposed, seconded and resolved that the Council would formally object to the proposal, and its objection would be formulated at the next meeting scheduled for 20th February 2024 when members would have had chance to consider the various objections.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 7:50pm