Yatton artist Deborah Redman has created a haunting sculpture in protest at National Grid’s proposals to route pylons through Yatton and North Somerset. The piece entitled Power Degeneration will shortly be on display at the reception area for Weston College, University Campus on Loxton Road. Visitors are welcome to view it there in the short term as it will be moved at the end of August.

Deborah issued the following statement regarding the work:
“I feel immensely passionate and committed to expressing my protest against National Grid’s proposals to construct giant pylons carrying high voltage cables within our local area. I am concerned about the health impacts which have been the subject of many investigations and reports about the significant risk from Electrical and magnetic fields (EMFs) which is overwhelming.
“I created this sculpture as a final piece for my Foundation Art, Design & Communication Diploma at Weston College. ‘Power Degeneration’ expresses my fears for the Proximity of High Voltage Pylons to Homes and Schools. I fear they could affect 4 generations of my family and future generations too.
“My distorted pylon was made using a combination of found materials e.g Detritus from Bridgwater Bay (the home of Hinkley B power station), and Dexion shelving struts. The individual limbs, faces, hands and feet were cast from Plaster, Modroc and Porcelain Clay using life models and finished to create an impression decay and death.

“My intention is to increase public awareness and to bring home the reality that in my opinion, many peoples health could be adversely affected at the hands of the National Grid and at what cost?”

Deborah Redman. July 2010

The battle to protect the countryside from towering pylons and miles of overhead cables is set to intensify this week as National Grid announces plans which are expected to see large swathes of the West blighted by high-voltage infrastructure.

Full story reported by Bristol Evening Post here: www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Rural-defenders-face-pylon-power-struggle/article-2328022-detail/article.html

From Telegraph.co.uk:

Britain’s most beautiful landscapes are under threat from a new wave of high-voltage pylons to be announced by the National Grid, conservationists warned yesterday.

Full story here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/7841833/British-landscapes-under-threat-from-new-wave-of-pylons.html

Dear Yatton Against Pylons,

‘Save Our Valley’ used a song of ours to help promote their cause. I am writing to you to let you know that you are also welcome to use this song as it is totally appropriate for anyone against pylon development in the countryside.

To hear it please visit:

www.honkrecords.co.uk

It is available on the homepage and is titled ‘Pylons’

If you would like to use this for any reason then please let us know and we can send you audio files of the song. No charge. We would just like to support your cause.

Kind regards,

Will Lawton
Honk Records

National Grid will be at Horsecastle Chapel TODAY from 2pm to 7.30pm for the first of their two Yatton drop-in events scheduled as part of their second attempt at consultation.

Please attend and ask as many questions as possible, and if you can spare sometime stay and help with our PROTEST at the door.

Looking forward to your help!

The following flyer has been produced in conjunction with No-Moor-Pylons.co.uk with support and funding from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Somerset. Copies are being circulated throughout Yatton and surrounding areas.

Pylon Flyer March 10

The following leaflet is currently being distributed to addresses in Yatton.

Thank you for your continued support!

YAP Leaflet June 2010

National Grid have today announced a second phase of consultation events at which they apparently hope to overturn the overwhelming tide of opinion against their proposed pylon scheme. A number of dates have been published as follows:

- June 7, 2-8pm: Tickenham Village Hall, Clevedon Road, Tickenham.

- June 8, 2-7.30pm: Portbury Village Hall, High Street, Portbury.

- June 10, 2-7.30pm: Horsecastle Chapel, Harsecastle Farm Road, Yatton.

- June 11, 2-8pm: Scotch Horn Leisure Centre, Brockway, Nailsea.

- June 14, 1-6.30pm: Portbury Village Hall, High Street, Portbury.

- June 18, 2-8pm: Avon Way Hall, Avon Way, Portishead.

- June 19, 10am-4pm: Yatton RFC, The Park, North End Road, Yatton.

- June 25, 2-8pm: Avon Way Hall, Avon Way, Portishead.

- June 26, 10am-4pm: Backwell School, Farleigh Road, Backwell.

- June 28, 2-8pm: Tickenham Village Hall, Clevedon Road, Tickenham.

- July 1, 2-8pm: Backwell WI Hall, Station Road, Backwell.

- July 3, 10am-4pm: Scotch Horn Leisure Centre, Brockway, Nailsea.

Note there are two events scheduled for Yatton (June 10, 2-7.30pm: Horsecastle Chapel & June 19, 10am-4pm: Yatton Rugby Club) the latter of which is an all-day Saturday event. Perhaps this is an indication that NG are now taking the IPC process more seriously and want to be seen to be properly engaging with the affected communities. Cynics might argue that this is more about ticking boxes than anything else but please remember that you have little other opportunity to get your point across to National Grid!

Also reported by Weston Mercury here: http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/news/story.aspx?brand=Westonmercury&category=newsNorthSomerset&tBrand=westonmercury&tCategory=znews&itemid=WeED28%20May%202010%2011%3A46%3A04%3A853

The minutes of the meeting of 18th May with the IPC are available to read here: 100526_EN010018_Meeting-Note

These IPC notes are very illuminating.

Three messages come across clearly:

1 National Grid admit their consultation process to date has been inadequate
2 National Grid are still not answering the key questions posed and as they have done so many times in the past (including to Liam Fox, Tessa Munt and Parliament) are still promising answers
3 The IPC view is that National Grid still need to review their consultation process and take on board the consultation feedback

Dr Liam Fox, Defence Secretary and MP for North Somerset calls for the abolition of the IPC.

Reported by Weston Mercury here: http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/news/story.aspx?brand=Westonmercury&category=newsNorthSomerset&tBrand=westonmercury&tCategory=znews&itemid=WeED25%20May%202010%2011%3A49%3A13%3A250

A little confusing perhaps given that the new coalition government seems to have made clear plans to replace the IPC.

See letter of 24th May by Sir Michael Pitt, chair of IPC: http://www.yattonagainstpylons.co.uk/2010/05/coalition-to-scrap-ipc/