Bicker Fen wind farm substation: Residents 'shocked'

The substation planned for Bicker Fen would be connected to the wind farm by underground cables

Residents say they are shocked at plans to build a substation the size of 30 football pitches in their village.

RWE Npower Renewables is planning more than 250 offshore wind turbines at Triton Knoll but has faced opposition to building a substation on land.

The company said it had selected a preferred site at Bicker Fen alongside the South Forty Foot Drain near Boston.

People living nearby said the project would drive down house prices. RWE said it would create hundreds of jobs.

Councillor Aaron Spencer, who represents Bicker Fen on Boston Borough Council, said: "I am very disappointed on behalf of the residents in the local area because it's the worst case scenario for them.

"I have heard a lot of their concerns about it disrupting the landscape and the fact that they're worried about the roads with all the machinery needed to build a massive substation."

This substation will be connected to the offshore wind farm by underground cables which will stretch 68 miles (110km) to the turbines.

The wind farm will be 20 miles off the coast at Mablethorpe with up to 288 turbines.

Resident Sandra Eagles said: "I'm absolutely furious and so shocked.

"I just cannot understand why a big company will try and ruin our village and turn it into an industrial site."

'Critical infrastructure'

Jacob Hain, from RWE, said: "We sent consultation information out to about 8,000 homes and met with nearly 900 residents.

"Tritton Knoll is critical infrastructure that can power hundreds of thousands of homes with home-grown renewable energy."

He said the firm was "committed to building a brand new access road" that would not go past residents' homes.

RWE said the project would create 500 jobs during construction and more than 300 during operation.