Representation by Nigel Cook
- Date submitted
- 10 July 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I attended the consultation meeting at Newton Village Hall on 26th October 2023. I was most disappointed that whilst there was a lot of information available at the consultation there were no pictures or models of what the proposed onshore substations would look like. The project team advised that the design would only be available once consent had been given. In my view this is too late. Proper consultation should have all the relevant information available so people can make a fully informed decision. The information I did take away was that these on-shore substations would be 25 metres high and have a massive footprint – in excess of 30 acres. There was no mention of how the visual impact would be mitigated and how long that would take bearing in mind the rate in which trees grow. The visual impact of this in a rural community would be devastating; devastating for pasture land as well as the local community. These onshore substations will mean a change from a rural/agricultural landscape into an industrial one. In addition the compulsory purchase of land for the substations will mean that this agricultural land will be lost forever and place at risk the viability of small holdings and farms in the area. Having lived near a much smaller sub station in a different part of the country I am aware of noise emissions. There is no mention of noise mitigation and how this will be controlled. Nor is there any explanation of what could be expected in terms of light, vibration and EMR transmissions and its impact on animals and humans. With the proposed locations being close to local schools within the community this again suggests that the proposed siting of the substations is flawed. I have concerns with how the search zones for the substations were identified in the first place. How was the Fylde Borough Council local plan for identified enterprise zones or brownfield sites used in the decision-making process? How were other options considered. Options such as taking the transmission cables south of the Ribble direct to the Penwortham substation or establishing off shore substations (e.g., London Array in the Thames Estuary)? In addition to my concerns re the substations the trenches for the on shore cables will be circa 35km long and up to 120metres wide during the construction phase. With the construction phase estimated to be between 5 and 8 years and a 600% to 700% increase in HGV movements this represents excessive disruption and congestion for the Fylde.