A pylon opposition group has slammed National Grid for 'arrogantly pressing on' with its consultation in the face of a government review.
The controversial plans would see 50-metre-tall pylons built across 110 miles of countryside along the Suffolk and Essex border to carry power from the wind farms.
Opponents have described the pylons as "monstrosities" that will damage the countryside and have called for an offshore grid to take cables from wind farms, rather than passing them over land.
However, the government has now ordered a review which will consider alternative locations for transferring the electricity.
But a spokesperson for National Grid said: “We need to progress the project in parallel to the electricity system operator’s study to be able to meet government’s ambitious target to connect 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.
“If recommendations from the study indicate alternative options to securely and affordably connect this clean power, we’ll review and engage with the impacted communities appropriately. To delay in the meantime would jeopardise efforts to deliver greater energy security and lower bills for Britons.”
The study, conducted by National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) will assess alternatives based on four criteria: cost to consumers, deliverability and operability, impact on the environment and impact on communities.
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Rosie Pearson, founder of pylon opposition group Essex Suffolk Norfolk pylons, slammed the way in which National Grid have "arrogantly pressed on" with their consultation while the study is being carried out.
"While we welcome the National Grid ESO review, it is obviously of concern to us that National Grid Electricity Transmission (behind the Norwich to Tilbury pylons,) has arrogantly pressed on with its pylons consultation regardless," said Mrs Pearson.
"The Government seeks more cooperation offshore, which is great news.
"The ESO review will, rightly, be looking at how to make sure that instead of the hugely damaging, unplanned and piecemeal approach we see currently in East Anglia, we see full integration of wind farms offshore."
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Mrs Pearson added: "For too long East Anglia's countryside and coastlines have been thrown under a bus due to a lack of coordination.
"We pin our hopes on this review to ensure that the better, cheaper and faster offshore grid is implemented instead of the unpopular and hugely damaging pylons proposals."
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