Groton Pylon Alliance

                                            "Preserving Suffolk’s countryside”

The GPA held its second public meeting on Tuesday evening at Dove Barn in Groton.

A packed meeting of more than 230 people from some 24 villages in the south Suffolk area heard how the Alliance has rapidly expanded to include 13 villages with more expected to join in the near future. The Alliance updated those present on the campaign group's website, its meetings with National Grid, its fundraising initiative and how the people of south Suffolk can support the Alliance as it challenges National Grid on its proposals to build a new 26 to 30km 400kV overhead power line from Bramford near Ipswich to Twinstead near Sudbury.

The Alliance explained that as a conservation group they are seeking the most favourable solution for the countryside and the least obtrusive impact on the landscape of south Suffolk. As such, they will be vigorously objecting to the proposals for corridors 3 and 4 and will work with other local campaign and conservation groups to ensure that the impact of any new line is mitigated wherever it is built. The Alliance believes that corridor 2 is the least worst solution involving as it does the taking down of an existing power line and replacing it with a new, albeit larger, power line with fewer pylons. The Alliance further commented that efforts should also be made to rid the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of the blight of existing power lines along corridors 1 and 2 - for example, by undergrounding.

Reflecting on the meeting, Colin Blackmore, Chairman of the Alliance said:-

"We were very pleased to see once again so many people attend our public meeting on Monday evening. The fact that people came in such large numbers reflects the unity and determination across the whole of south Suffolk to challenge National Grid and prevent the further blight of pylons across the countryside. We urge people to continue to raise awareness locally, keep in touch with our website (www.groton-pylon-alliance.co.uk) and write to National Grid (with a copy to the Alliance) objecting to their proposals.”