‘We are not interested in token bribes’ say No Pylons Lincolnshire in reaction to Government’s energy discount scheme

Campaigners have said they are not interested in ‘token bribes’ after it was revealed than an electricity bill discount may be offered to residents near new energy infrastructure schemes.

People who live near pylons, substations or above ground cables could be given up to £2,500 off their electricity bills under the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill — as reported by The Times.

No Pylons Lincolnshire is fighting against plans to install 80 pylons along the county’s coastline as part of National Grid’s plans to upgrade the network. This is one of a number of proposals for renewable energy infrastructure planned for the county.

Andrew Malkin, who is a South Holland-based member No Pylons Lincolnshire, said: “We are not interested in token bribes - we are interested in our communities, our health, our food security and finding a better way to net zero.

“Given that Ed Miliband has confirmed the UK will be exporting electricity to Europe (a move that will generate £45 billion a year for energy companies) £250 is a slap in the face.

“We need to be looking at keeping generation and transmission offshore as much as possible and preserving the integrity of our prime agricultural land here in Lincolnshire.

“The people of Lincolnshire are not for sale.”

A major reform of the planning system is being proposed by the Government in the Planning and Infrastructure bill to boost economic growth.

This new legislation is proposing to reduce the number of statutory consultees on planning applications in order to speed up the process to get more building projects off the ground.

It is also suggesting that people living within half-a-kilometre of pylons receive a discount on energy bills which is the ‘annual equivalent of £250 over a ten year period’ - according to The Times.

The paper has also reported that the scheme would be funded by energy firms and that the Government is looking to extend the payment to onshore windfarms — however, the bill suggests the discount would be funded by billpayers in general.

Ministers are hoping that discounted bills scheme will help to ease some of the opposition seen in rural areas to the slew of infrastructure projects.

What do you think? Post a comment below…