National Grid is inviting local residents to a series of public information events in December to find out more about proposals for a new electricity substation west of Twinstead Tee, near Sudbury.
The substation would be needed as part of a proposed 400,000 volt electricity connection between Bramford, near Ipswich, and a power junction at Twinstead Tee. Three potential locations have been identified for the substation between Twinstead Tee and Castle Hedingham.
National Grid will be carrying out a full public consultation early next year to consider views on the potential sites for the 400,000 volt substation. In advance of the consultation, the National Grid project team will be holding three public drop-in events next month to talk to people in more detail about the three locations and about next year’s consultation. Details of the events are below:
- Monday 5 December, Twinstead Village Hall, 2pm – 8pm
- Tuesday 6 December, Wickham St Paul Village Hall, 2pm-8pm
- Wednesday 7 December, Great Yeldham Reading Room, 2pm – 8pm
National Grid project manager Martin Davies said: “We will be carrying out public consultation early next year. However, we thought it might be helpful to give people the opportunity to familiarise themselves with details about the substation locations and to gain more information about the consultation process. The project team will be on hand to answer any questions people may have.”
In July National Grid announced its preferred route corridor – Corridor 2 - for the proposed new 400,000 volt power connection. This would involve taking down a UK Power Networks’ 132,000 volt line from Burstall Bridge to Twinstead Tee and building a new 400,000 volt overhead line. The company will be giving detailed consideration to areas where placing cables under ground would be appropriate. The new substation would be needed to secure power supplies to the UK Power Networks system.
Three potential locations have been identified for a new substation: a site north of Colne Valley Farm Park, next to an existing overhead line and the A1017; land next to Ramacre Wood, north east of Castle Hedingham; land near the A131, near Butlers Wood and Waldegrave Wood, north east of Wickham St Paul.
The Bramford-Twinstead Tee connection is needed to connect new power generators to the East Anglian high voltage electricity network. With a significant amount of generation due to close over the next decade, continued electricity demand and Britain’s challenge to reduce greenhouse gases, these generators will play an important role in helping to meet the country’s energy needs.
Monthly community forums, made up of local residents, parish councillors and interest groups, are meeting along the preferred route corridor to engage the detailed development of National Grid’s proposals. One of the first issues they are looking at is which parts of the preferred route corridor they feel would most benefit from installing cables underground rather than overhead.
Members of the public are welcome to observe the discussions at the next round of forums (details below):
- Tuesday 22 November, Hintlesham Golf Club, 7pm – 8.30pm
- Wednesday 23 November, Stoke-by-Nayland Village Hall, 7pm-8.30pm
- Thursday 24 November, Twinstead Village Hall, 7pm-8.30pm
The notes of the October forums are available on the project website at www.nationalgrid.com/bramford-twinstead.
People can find out more information about the project by: visiting the project website at www.nationalgrid.com/bramford-twinstead; emailing bramford-twinstead@uk.ngrid.com; calling freephone 0800 377 7340 or writing to the freepost address at Freepost National Grid Connections.
-Ends-
Contact for media information only:
Sara Wilcox
National Grid Media Relations
T: 01926 655271
M: 07899 983792
email: sara.wilcox@uk.ngrid.com
For more information, please visit our website: www.nationalgrid.com/UK
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