No information provided in latest request about east coast pylon plans.
Lincolnshire County Council wrote to National Grid in February asking for further details about the decision-making process about their Grimsby to Walpole pylon proposals, and their methodology in assessing the costs.
The council is keen to make sure that to make sure that other options – including placing cables on the seabed – have been properly considered.
National Grid has said it does not hold the information we have asked for.
Andy Gutherson, director of place at Lincolnshire County Council, explained:
“Unlike public bodies, National Grid is not subject to Freedom of Information requests, but is subject to requests under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR).
“This was the council’s second such information request to National Grid, as a previous version was denied in December. We then revised our questions and resubmitted a request in February.
“With no information forthcoming, the council will now ask for an ‘internal review’ of the handling of its requests, where National Grid will assess their own responses.
“If we are not satisfied with the outcome of their internal review, the council has the option to write to the independent Information Commissioner for them to look into the matter.”
National Grid plans to carry out further public consultation on their pylon plans later in 2025. In a survey carried out by the county council between November and January, over 70% of respondents said they felt the pylon plans would impact negatively on local nature.