The good people of Ingatestone are going to be quite busy over the summer as two consultations affecting local life are currently open and awaiting responses.
Greater Anglia’s consultation about changes to the times Ingatestone Station is staffed (mornings only) and the closure of the ticket office ends this week (26th July) so if you have not yet taken part please check the Greater Anglia website (www.greateranglia.co.uk/consult) to give your views.
Also over the summer National Grid is holding a second consultation over its proposals for Norwich to Tilbury (formerly known as East Anglia GREEN, a project which would see a 183km line of electricity pylons running over countryside from Norfolk to South Essex, including parts of Ingatestone and West Horndon.
The pylon consultation is running at the moment, and closes on 21 August 2023.
National Grid is asking for feedback on its preferred draft alignment, which shows potential positions for overhead lines and associated pylons, underground cables, cable sealing end compounds (where overhead lines are joined to underground cables) and connection substations.
As you will know from previous articles and communications, I am strongly objecting to the proposals, along with my fellow Members of Parliament whose constituencies are impacted by the proposals. We are advocating for an off-shore option and have been holding National Grid to account for its bullish refusal to consider this option to date.
You can make your views on the proposals known to National Grid here: https://www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/network-and-infrastructure/infrastructure-projects/norwich-to-tilbury/public-consultation
The consultation is open to local residents, communities, landowners and local businesses and interest groups, as well as elected representatives so please do take the time to have your say.
