Overhead Power Lines: National Grid Consultation

Consultation on High-Voltage Overhead Power Lines (Hinckley Point to Avonmouth)

National Grid undertook a further stage of consultation Stage 1B) between 28 May and 23 July 2010 on proposals for a new high-voltage overhead power line between Bridgwater and Avonmouth (Seabank) to connect the new Hinckley Point C nuclear power station.

Burrington Parish was not within National Grid’s ‘consultation zone’ which only includes parishes through which the proposed route corridors pass. However, some residents of this parish will be interested, because of the proximity of the Churchill Sub-station and its connecting power lines.

Two Route Corridors were under consideration:

Route Corridor 1 had two variants. 1A replaces the existing 132 KV line to Churchill Sub-station with a 400 KV overhead line, a new Churchill Sub-station and a new 400 KV overhead connection to the new Bridgwater to Seabank line. 1B involves a new 400 KV overhead line next to the existing 132 KV line.

Route Corridor 2 followed a new route from west of Crook Peak, near the M5, with two options: one following the motorway to a point between Kingston Seymour and North End, Yatton; the other passing east of Banwell and then with two variants – through Hewish or west of Congresbury. The existing 132 KV line to Churchill Sub-station would remain.

September 2011 UPDATE:

The Preferred Route Corridor for the proposed Hinkley Point C Connection has now been selected. 

Route Corridor 1, Option 1A has been selected for the majority of the connection, however National Grid is proposing to adopt:

Route Corridor 2 between between:

• Horsey and Woolavington near Bridgwater; and

• Tickenham Ridge and Portishead.

Route Corridor 1, Option 1B / Corridor 2 between:

•  Avonmouth substation and Seabank substation.

National Grid proposes to take down the existing 132kV Western Power Distribution (WPD) overhead line between Bridgwater and Avonmouth substations.

Click here for a link to the National Grid web site, which includes an interactive map. You can also download a PDF of the Preferred Route Corridor Map, but beware that it is 31.2 MB and will take a while to download - especially if you are in this parish!  An extract for this area around the parish can be viewed on this link

The next stage of consultation is described on the National Grid at this link. There is a new consultation zone extending 'at least 1km from the outer edge of the preferred corridor.'  A detailed consultation programme will be published later.

JANUARY 2012 UPDATE:

National Grid has advised that there are the following updates on the Hinkley Point C Connection Project Website:

Update on the Community Forums

Output from the Community Forum meetings

New document - Undergrounding Consultation Report 

For details of the responses they received to their undergrounding consultation and how they  used that advice to develop their approach, see:

Update on the IET Report