We are urging residents across Lincolnshire to engage with National Grid’s targeted consultation on the Weston Marsh substations, the proposals have far-reaching consequences for energy costs, food security, and community wellbeing.
The consultation, launched in the run-up to Christmas, focuses on Weston Marsh and its two proposed substations. However, these substations are crucial to the delivery of multiple energy infrastructure projects, including:
- The Grimsby to Walpole
- Weston to East Leicestershire
- Ossian offshore wind farm
- Outer Dowsing offshore wind farm
- Meridian solar farm
The consultation has been framed too narrowly, excluding communities along the wider Grimsby to Walpole corridor and the timing of the consultation — during one of the busiest periods of the year — reduces public engagement and risks leaving ordinary residents unable to respond.
This is not just about Weston Marsh. These substations are the key connection for energy projects across Lincolnshire. If people don’t speak up now, decisions will be made without their input.
UK energy prices continue to rise as the costs of multiple infrastructure projects are passed on to consumers. These projects are being developed without any kind of strategic, joined-up thinking.
At the same time, food prices are expected to rise as prime agricultural land in Lincolnshire — which currently supplies up to 40 per cent of the UK’s fresh produce — is lost to energy infrastructure. This threatens both local livelihoods and national food security.
We are also concerned about National Grid’s approach to fast-tracking the development of Substation A, a move which will see separate planning sought through South Holland District Council ahead of the Grimsby Walpole being submitted into National planning.
This is a calculated and confusing move by National Grid. We have been bombarded with various consultations for pylons, cables and solar farms. People are quite rightly fed up and confused with it all. Each consultation brings with it thousands of pages of information, a short time frame to digest and respond made even more difficult by overlapping and fragmented proposals.
We have written to Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, inviting him to meet with communities in Lincolnshire who are heavily impacted by energy production and transmission. As yet, we have received no response.
Key issues raised include:
- Lack of wider consultation: Communities along the Grimsby to Walpole route and connected projects are not being fully engaged.
- Timing: Consultation launched in the run-up to Christmas, limiting public participation.
- Transparency: Confusion over planning routes and fast-tracking of Substation A.
- Cumulative impacts: The substations are central to multiple projects, yet consultation materials fail to explain the wider consequences.
- Energy and food prices: Rising bills and reduced food security as costs are passed to consumers and farmland is lost.
We urge all residents concerned about pylons, substations, and associated infrastructure across Lincolnshire to submit feedback to the consultation before the December 19 deadline. Template objection letters and guidance are available at www.lincsland.co.uk
This consultation is a part of the Grimsby to Walpole proposal. We need everyone, not just Weston Marsh to take part. Your voice matters.
Lincolnshire Against Needless Destruction (LAND)
