Campaigners want public's view on Sea Link power line

Rethink Sea Link are campaigning for an alternative route for the cable linking Kent and Suffolk

Conservationists want the public to air their views on plans to install an electricity cable linking Kent to Suffolk.

National Grid's Sea Link project aims to lay 90 miles (145km) of undersea cable that would come ashore near Sandwich in Kent and between Thorpeness and Aldeburgh in Suffolk.

After a consultation ended in December 2023, amendments were made and people now have until 11 August to share their views.

But Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) remains concerned over how the route will impact the wildlife at the bay and Minster Marshes.

In December the trust launched the 'Rethink Sea Link' campaign urging the National Grid to look at other routes for the cable.

The Sea Link project has been described by the Campaign to Protect Rural England as "a disaster".

According to the National Grid, upgrades will help the UK switch to clean energy

KWT says it is "supportive" of renewable energy solutions, but not at the cost of wildlife.

The charity also supports the 'Save Minster Marshes Campaign', which is concerned about how Sea Link will impact Minster Marshes, described as "an important wildlife corridor".

'Untold harm'

Emma Waller, the trust's planning and policy officer, said: "We are supportive of renewable energy, but we are in the midst of a climate and biodiversity crisis, and we cannot sacrifice one at the cost of the other.

"National Grid has outlined several alternative routes, but the one they have chosen causes untold harm to our natural world and we are asking them to take another look at alternative options and Rethink Sea Link."

Ms Waller highlighted the marine life at the bay which is "home to Kent’s largest population of seals", but she said "no physical surveys of these precious marine mammals have been carried out".

She added that "many of the ecological surveys are either incomplete or desk-based".

Conservative MP for Sandwich and Herne Bay, Sir Roger Gale, is opposed to the project, in particular the plans to build converter stations on the Minster Marshes in his constituency.

“This is a bad proposal that has been ill-thought through. There are viable and cost effective alternatives. And if National Grid proceeds with this project - as at present they appear determined to do - then we can guarantee that it will end up in the courts and that will cause delay.”

East Thanet MP Polly Billington has met with the trust.

She said she was "very concerned" about the lack of transparency by National Grid in their decision making and selection of this site "which is so environmentally precious".

National Grid, which last month said it had made some changes to its plans before they are submitted for development consent, the project was "essential" to meet the government's 2030 clean power target.

A spokesman said: "We are undertaking ongoing ecological surveys, alongside consultation with local and national wildlife organisations, to ensure we fully understand the environment in the area.

"We have explored various alternatives to deliver this necessary infrastructure. As a result, we feel the Sea Link design strikes the right balance between environmental and technical factors."

The company said the public can submit feedback until the public consultation closes on 11 August.

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