Battle rages over sub-station

Rob GarrattA BATTLE over plans to build an electricity sub station near a small Norfolk village has been transported all the way to the Houses of Commons.Rob Garratt

A BATTLE over plans to build an electricity sub station near a small Norfolk village has been transported all the way to the Houses of Commons.

Mid-Norfolk MP Keith Simpson invited wind farm firm Warwick Energy to brief him on proposals to build a 42-acre sub station on the doorstep of Little Dunham, near Swaffham, after more than 1,300 people signed a petition in opposition to the plans.

But following a meeting in the Commons with Warwick project manager Mark Petterson, Mr Simpson said he is still 'unconvinced' by the scheme, which is part of a �1.3bn bid to redistribute power from a proposed wind farm off the north Norfolk coast.

'The disruption on this small village is going to be enormous,' said Mr Simpson. 'And quite rightly people living there are concerned about the affect it will have on their properties. It represents a huge blight.'

He also said proposed measures to screen the village from the sub station, which would be less than 200m from some homes, would not be effective enough and could take 10 years to build.

Also sitting in on last week's meeting meeting was George Freeman, Conservative parliamentary candidate for the new constituency seat of Mid Norfolk, and Mr Simpson said the two will be working together up until the forthcoming election to support the villagers.

As well as petition bearing 1,300 names from the surrounding area, more than 200 villagers have written to planners at Breckland Council calling for them to reject a planning application for the scheme, which will be up for discussion at the council's development control committee at a date to be set.