March, 2010

To date there are around 800 signatories on the downing street petition – we need more, lots more! If you haven’t yet signed it, please do so by visiting http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/HinkleyConnction/. It only takes a moment to fill out the online form after which you’ll need to respond to a confirmation email sent to your email address. Please tell everyone you can – it doesn’t matter whether they’re from Yatton, North Somerset or anywhere else for that matter. We need to be heard by the powers that be and the more signatures we have, the stronger our voice!

Click here: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/HinkleyConnction/

Following the warning issued to National Grid by the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), National Grid has announced that it will organise a number of further public meetings and provide written information justifying its case for Pylons through North Somerset

Announcement in press release on National Grid website here: http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Media+Centre/PressReleases/2010/2.3.10+Hinkley+update.htm

The cynical view may be that following the warning from the IPC, National Grid needs to ensure that their “consultation” meets the IPC requirements, and therefore reduces the likelihood that a subsequent application for planning consent is thrown out by the IPC.

Also reported here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8546530.stm

The government appointed Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) has warned National Grid that ‘substantially more work needs to be done to increase the level of understanding in the respective local communities’.

“The IPC has now advised National Grid about the risks of identifying the initial route options and then setting out the case against undergrounding or an undersea route without explaining in full why this should not be taken forward.

“An IPC statement said: “This approach could be seen as predetermining the choice of route and cloud the approach of all to any subsequent consultation.”

“To help resolve the situation, the IPC has suggested setting up a meeting between National Grid and other interested parties to clarify the extent and nature of concerns and objections against the power line plans.”

Full story reported by The Weston Mercury here: http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/news/story.aspx?brand=Westonmercury&category=news&tBrand=westonmercury&tCategory=znews&itemid=WeED25%20Feb%202010%2010%3A55%3A08%3A583

and the BBC here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8538871.stm