NORTH Somerset MP Dr Liam Fox's Electricity and Gas Transmission (Compensation) Bill has recently progressed through to the Committee Stage in the House of Commons.
The bill aims to create an independent mechanism for landowners to claim compensation for disruption to their property by the National Grid, which has put up pylons to connect with Hinkley Point.
The Hinkley Connection Project aims to connect homes and businesses to low-carbon, sustainable energy in response to the climate crisis. The T-shaped pylons have, however, caused substantial disruption to landowners in the process.
Wendy Beer, a landowner based overlooking the Mendip Hills, has had her world turned upside-down by the pylons. She says: "I had a letter from National Grid telling me that I wouldn't be able to continue keeping animals on my land because of this project.
"I should have been looking forward to my retirement. I expected to enjoy my retirement with peace and beauty.
"You should see it now; it's all totally ruined.
"These (new pylons) are in occupation of 80% of my land. My land is no longer fit for purpose.
"It's beyond belief that it was ever allowed and it's the sort of project that is going to spread across the country."
🎯 Last year was a huge year for the #HinkleyConnection project!
— National Grid UK (@nationalgriduk) January 19, 2023
📍 We've picked some of our key landmarks as we ahead to a busy 🗓2023
Click the link to find out what we'll be working towards this year - including energising the world's first T-Pylons ⬇🖱
When asked about what they are doing to help landowners, a spokesperson for the National Grid has said: “National Grid delivers critical energy infrastructure that ensures safe and secure power supplies for homes and businesses across Great Britain, and enables growth in low carbon power to help meet the government’s net zero targets.
“We work with tens of thousands of landowners to deliver this critical infrastructure and where we need access to private land we work hard to reach voluntary agreements.
"In the small minority of cases where that is not possible our main aim is to always work closely and collaboratively with those impacted to come to a balanced and fair compensation agreement.
“Any compensation agreed is in accordance with existing legislation. As compensation payments are ultimately included on consumer energy bills this legislation aims to ensure consistency across the country and reassures consumers that justifiable, evidence based levels are paid.”
For more information on Dr Liam Fox's new bill, visit the House of Commons Library website.
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