Witham MP Priti Patel yesterday challenged Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Labour Energy Minister Michael Shanks over their plans to bulldoze our countryside to make way for over 100 miles of pylons and overhead powerlines across the East of England, including through the Witham constituency. Speaking in the House of Commons, Priti urged the Labour Government to review their plans and to meet with MPs and representatives from local communities affected to listen to their concerns and to the alternatives they are putting forward.
Priti said “This incompetent and arrogant Labour Government are continuing to ignore the views of local communities throughout the East of England who have serious concerns about these pylons. We all want to see an increase in renewable energy from offshore wind farms and we are proud that we are world leaders in the East of England. But that’s why we need to develop an offshore grid, which will carry longer-term benefits, and explore undergrounding options to reduce the impact on our environment and countryside. I will keep on raising this issue and continue to work with campaigners and local communities to ensure their voices are heard and not silenced by this appalling Labour Government.”
