• Local community urged to give feedback and attend remaining consultation events
  • This is likely to be National Grid's last consultation on the plans before it submits its planning application this autumn

A rallying call has gone out to the local community to ensure they give their views on National Grid's Richborough Connection plans before the public consultation closes on Friday 27 March.

Many people have already attended a consultation event or given their views on the project since National Grid opened the consultation on Tuesday 10 February.

National Grid Project Manager Steve Self said: "We're grateful to those people who have already taken part in our consultation, but it's really important that those who haven't do so before the consultation closes on Friday 27 March.

"The feedback people give us on our proposal including the route, pylon type and pylon locations, is very important and will help us shape our thinking as we finalise our plans."

He added: "This will likely be the last chance people  have to influence our proposals before we submit our planning application in the autumn.

 "So please do come along, meet us and share your views at one of the remaining events or if you can't attend in person contact us online, by phone or by letter."

People can share their views and find out more about the plans at a series of information events which will be held as follows:

Date

Venue

Time

28 February

Guildhall, Cattle Market, Sandwich, CT13 9AP

10am - 4pm

04 March

Broad Oak Village Hall, 110 Shalloak Road, CT2 0QH

2pm - 9pm

05 March

Broad Oak Village Hall, 110 Shalloak Road, CT2 0QH

2pm - 9pm

People can also talk to the team at the following local public shopping location:

Date

Venue

Time

03 March

Co-operative Food, Moat Sole Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9AL

10am-6pm

Finally, people can find out more about our proposals and have their say by:

  • Visiting the project website at www.richboroughconnection.co.uk
  • Visiting local libraries and council head offices
  • Following us on Twitter: @NGRichborough
  • Calling our Freephone number 0800 157 7878
  • Writing to our freepost address at FREEPOST RICHBCONNECTION
  • Sending an email to Richboroughconnection@communitycomms.co.uk

The Richborough Connection is needed to join Nemo Link® (an electricity link between Belgium and the UK) to the electricity transmission network.  A new electricity connection between Richborough and Canterbury is required to do this and the plans involve building a new overhead line. Informed by previous public feedback and extensive studies the proposals recommend using a combination of standard and low height lattice pylons* (see notes to editors for more information on pylon types), designed to ensure visual and environmental impact on the local area is minimised.

Contact for media information only:

Regional Press Officer South

Antony Quarrell

www.nationalgridmedia.com/

Follow us on Twitter

07810 853075

Out of hours 0845 366 6769

Photos:

For photos relating to this news release please visit the National Grid photo stream

Notes to Editors:

The proposed route for the Richborough Connection hasn't changed much since  the draft route was announced in May 2014. It still has the least environmental impact and allows for UK Power Networks' existing line in the same area to be removed. It also still runs further away from homes in Hersden, Upstreet, Sarre and Gore Street than the UK Power Networks line. Additionally it is now also further away from homes in Monkton and Minster than the two existing UK Power Networks lines (including the one to be removed). The revised plans also propose to use low height lattice pylons in the Ash Levels, to minimise the impact on the local area and wildlife.

*Typical high-voltage pylon dimensions

Standard lattice - height: around 46 to 50m, cross arm: 17.1m, base 7.5m square

Low height lattice pylon - height: 35-42m, cross arm: 29.2m wide, base: 7m square

T-pylon (solid structure) - height: 34m to 39m, cross arm: 30.5m, base: 2m

Height of existing lower voltage 132kV pylons in the area - approximately 26m 

Comparison to a local landmark - Canterbury Cathedral is 72m tall.

Nemo Link Limited

Nemo Link Limited is a joint project between National Grid International Ltd - a separately regulated National Grid company - and the Belgian electricity transmission system operator Elia.

Under the law Nemo Link must be treated the same as any other company applying to connect to the electricity transmission system.

For more information on this project go to www.nemo-link.com

For media information only on Nemo Link® contact:

Isobel Rowley

07917 211116

isobel.rowley@nationalgrid.com

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