Ed Miliband leaving a Downing Street Cabinet meeting (Image: Getty)
Ministers should launch a national public inquiry into the Government’s energy strategy which risks becoming “heavy-handed and undemocratic”, campaigners have said. Nearly 20 rural grassroots groups have penned a letter to Ed Miliband warning him communities are “crying out” to be listened to instead of being dismissed as “blockers”.
They also take aim at Government proposals for people living near power cables to receive ￡250 a year off their energy bills. The letter said: “We welcome the Government’s recognition of the negative impacts of current transmission infrastructure plans on rural communities. However, discounts off electricity bills are not the answer – they do not adequately address the concerns of local communities, nor would they facilitate faster delivery of energy infrastructure.
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"It became evident through the consultation process that bill discounts are unpopular with impacted communities. These communities are facing the prospect of their landscapes, businesses, farms, wildlife and heritage being irrevocably damaged. The economic harm is already being felt, with people unable to sell (or buy) homes. In these circumstances, offering a discount on electricity bills is seen as wholly inadequate - and missing the point.”
The groups called for financial compensation, “genuine” engagement with communities, use the most up-to-date onshore and offshore grid upgrade approaches and launch a national inquiry.
It comes days after Sir Keir Starmer’s flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill was introduced in Parliament and aims to speed up building.
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The letter continued: “In order to demonstrate need, a National Public Enquiry must be established to determine the best and most efficient energy strategy for the whole UK. Decisions taken by particular political parties at Westminster, Holyrood and Cardiff are prone to confirmation bias and risk becoming heavy-handed and undemocratic.
“Working together would result in quicker delivery of the great grid upgrade which is essential for achieving net zero by 2035.”
Under the government's plans, households in Great Britain within 500m of new or upgraded pylons will get discounts of up to ￡2,500 over 10 years, equivalent to ￡250 a year.
Mr Miliband said the costs of the scheme were "more than offset" by the benefits of the new infrastructure.
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He added that the idea was not about buying people off but "recognising the service" they were doing for the whole country.
A government-commissioned report found hundreds of miles of new pylons will be needed to meet its clean energy targets.
Ministers will publish new guidance on how developers should provide benefits to communities hosting transmission infrastructure, by funding projects like sports clubs, educational programmes or leisure facilities.
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The government said this would mean communities could get ￡200,000 worth of funding per km of overhead electricity cable in their area, and ￡530,000 per substation.
Ministers have put the changes in the Bill at the heart of its push for economic growth.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has said local people would still be "part of the process" but it would be "streamlined" so development was not "continually blocked for years and years".