MP continues her campaign for Somerset residents by presenting Anti-Pylon Petition to Parliament (Wells Constituency Liberal Democrats)

Wells Constituency Liberal Democrats <info@wellslibdems.org.uk>

MP continues her campaign for Somerset residents by presenting Anti-Pylon Petition to Parliament

July 19, 2011 4:11 PM

Tessa and Pylon

Local MP Tessa Munt today continued in her bid to stop 152ft super-sized pylons being imposed on the Somerset countryside when she presented an impressive petition to the House of Commons.

This follows Tessa's success two weeks ago when she introduced her Protection of Landscapes Bill which would change the law to prevent these pylons being erected because they are cheaper than other options.

The Petition has over 1,500 signatories collected by local campaign group 'No Moor Pylons' and reads:

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of residents of Wells and others

Declares that the petitioners believe National Grid's consultation on proposals to erect 152ft high pylons is flawed; that the proposal would blight the beautiful unspoiled Somerset countryside; and further declare that the petitioners accept that electricity transmission is essential but the petitioners are concerned that National Grid is offering consultees a choice between two unacceptable routes, chosen by National Grid solely on the basis of cost, to the exclusion of other viable options such as undergrounding, under the Bristol Channel or along the M5 corridor.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take all possible steps to encourage National Grid to stop the current consultation into electricity transmission in Somerset and consider other viable options.

And the petitioners remain, etc.

Tessa and the Chair of No Moor Pylons, Paul Hipwell, are also planning to deliver the Petition directly to Number 10 and the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

Tessa said "This Petition shows just how many people are concerned about these proposals. Those in urban or suburban communities are already protected because powerlines are automatically put underground. How it is fair that people in my rural constituency and other parts of Somerset should have to suffer the scarring of their beautiful landscape and the decimation of tourism, on which so many are dependent, when there are other alternatives to these super-pylons."

Tessa's Protection of Landscape Bill is to be debated in Parliament in November.