Councillors have spoken in one voice against plans for a 184km power line that would cut through the north Essex countryside.

National Grid recently held a statutory consultation into its proposals for a new power line connection between Norwich and Tilbury to link up electricity infrastructure – including connections in Tendring.

In response to the consultation, Tendring District Council (TDC) last month said it remains “strongly opposed” to proposed plans following concerns over the impact on the countryside and the transport network.

At a meeting of the full council on Tuesday, 6 August, councillors unanimously voted in favour of a motion proposed by Councillor Zoe Fairley, which states the pylons could have a “potentially devastating effect” on Tendring.

The motion calls on Mark Stephenson, the Leader of the Council, to write to Ed Miliband MP, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, calling on him to reexamine the Norwich to Tilbury proposals and to instead look at an integrated offshore grid, alongside highlighting that undergrounding high-voltage direct current has been assessed as being better and cheaper than pylons.

Mr Miliband will also be asked not to allow plans to proceed for the Tarchon Energy interconnector project, which would see a direct high voltage link between Germany and Great Britain, due to fears over costs and the National Interest.

Councillor Fairley said: “There is a huge amount of concern. The level of objection across the 184km route is unprecedented – and the impacts are too severe.

“People’s concerns are not nimbyism. Communities and farmers should not have to bear the burden without proper levels of compensation.”

Councillor Andy Baker, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, said he did not believe the benefits of the project would outweigh the damaging effect on the environment.

“While I consider the move to renewable energy to be of huge importance, whether it is wind, solar or hydro, it surely cannot be at the expense of devastating huge areas of land using technology from the distant past,” he said

“National Grid has consulted on one option only, despite the fact that there are other options available, including offshore powerlines.

“I have never seen so many people and organisations, parish, town, district, borough and county councils united in their opposition to a scheme.

“It sends a united message to National Grid and the government that other options must be explored.”

Councillor Stephenson, who backed the motion, will also write to Harwich and North Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin and Clacton MP Nigel Farage to call on them to take all possible actions open to them to support the council’s position.

The Government will have the final say on the plans.

It is expected that the plans will be submitted next year and, if granted, construction could begin in 2027.

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