February 18, 2013
England

Substation and underground cable linking to wind farm labelled ‘unsuitable’

17 February 2013 | www.bostonstandard.co.uk

Plans for an underground cable and substation to connect a wind farm to the National Grid have been labelled ‘unreasonable’ by Boston’s MP.

Mark Simmonds has come out against against plans revealed last week by RWE npower renewables to link its Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm to a site in Bicker Fen.

The plans would see a new substation built close to Bicker’s current wind farm and a 1km wide ‘cable corridor’ from a Anderby Creek to Ingoldmells, Skegness, Wainfleet St Mary, Sibsey and on to Bicker that would be narrowed down to a 60-metre wide ‘cable route’ once details are confirmed.

Mr Simmonds has written to energy minister John Hayes, MP for neighbouring South Holland and the Deepings, saying: “Whilst I am aware that wind power has a role to play in the UK’s energy portfolio I also firmly believe that wind farms should be located appropriately and have local support.

“My own constituency of Boston and Skegness seems to be consistently targeted for onshore wind development proposals and the inevitable infrastructure that results from such developments.”

He added that the new Bicker substation could be as big as 20 hectares and said: “Bicker is already home to a wind farm with 13 turbines. It seems unreasonable that such a small rural village should be asked to host yet more wind related infrastructure.”

He calls for greater transparency and for sites to be ‘properly evaluated’ before they are put forward, adding: “In my role as a local MP I have consistently opposed any inappropriate proposals for onshore wind or related infrastructure which will have a negative impact on the lives and assets of my constituents and will continue to do so.”

RWE npower said the wind farm will power up to 850,000 homes and that the substation will be ‘hundreds of metres’ away from homes. The plan is out for consultation, with a meeting due at Bicker Village Hall from 3-7pm on March 6.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/02/18/substation-and-underground-cable-linking-to-wind-farm-labelled-unsuitable/