Consultation on Lincolnshire countryside pylon plan launched

National Grid has launched a consultation on plans to install electricity hubs and pylons through the Lincolnshire countryside.

The firm says a new network is needed to transport electricity 87 miles (140km) between Grimsby and Walpole in Norfolk.

It is part of plans to transport power from offshore wind farms around the UK.

The move attracted opposition from campaigners, with calls for the cables to be buried underground.

The proposals form part of The Great Grid Upgrade - which is claimed to be the largest overhaul of the grid in generations.

Carl Simms, senior project manager at National Grid, said: "What we are proposing is a new overhead line project to allow us to connect new forms of renewable energy into the network.

"This is a nationally significant infrastructure project."

Critics have raised concerns about the impact on the environment.

Conservative county councillor Colin Davie said: "This so-called Great Grid Upgrade won't be great for Lincolnshire's visitor economy as these pylons, substations and overhead cables will carve up our beautiful landscape."

He said elsewhere in the country National Grid planned to "bury these cables under the ground or under the sea".

"Why can't that be done in Lincolnshire too?," he asked.

One of those impacted by the proposals is Jen Cooper, 66, who lives near Alford.

She said it would "urbanise" what was a quiet, rural area.

"People live here because it's quiet and for the countryside and the views - that will be taken away."

However, Mr Simms said: "As it stands, Lincolnshire doesn't have a lot of overhead lines [and] we are avoiding going directly though the Lincolnshire Wolds [an area of outstanding natural beauty]."

In response to the comments about burying the cables underground, he said they had a duty to deliver value for money, adding it was "significantly cheaper" to use pylons.

Mr Davie previously claimed Lincolnshire was being used as a dumping ground for green energy projects that benefit other parts of the country.

He said any decision on the project would be taken by the Secretary of State, but the council would continue to "make our views on the proposals clear".

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