Updates – Stop The Pylons

MARCH 2025

Up-date for Morley Residents from the Stop The Pylons Campaign

We want to update you on what has been happening with the campaign since the submission date of 17th September 2024 for the non-statutory consultation.

In October 2024, Linsey Farnsworth (MP for Amber Valley) facilitated two meetings between National Grid and a representative from each Amber Valley Parish Council and campaign group. Although questions from the representatives were submitted a week prior to the dates – answers were still not given, or were incomplete. We are calling on Linsey and all other local MPs to actively support our campaign and to challenge National Grid on some of the assertions that they have made.

We have been in contact with Mid Derbyshire MP Jonathan Davies to confirm that he will facilitate a meeting with National Grid for Morley and asked if this could include other Parish representatives from other areas within Mid Derbyshire.

In November, Parish and Town Councils of villages/towns within the swathe received a letter from the Planning Inspectorate. Responses to the letter would inform the Planners as to what should be in or out of scope for National Grid when they seek to apply for planning permission. Accordingly this was an important report. In Morley, the letter was received on 14th November although dated 1st November, with a deadline to respond of the 29th November. This correspondence consisted of a 1,000 page document, with just 14 days to digest it and respond. We contacted all councils asking them to respond and submitted our response. We have read the final report and unsurprisingly, very few responses were received, and a common theme of those that did respond was that the time frame was too short, and the technical details hard to absorb. We have raised a complaint which is ongoing. The report is available online.

January 2025 saw Ardent/National Grid sending letters to various local landowners asking for survey access. This involves signing a 12 month licence agreement in return for a payment of between £500 and £750. If you have received one of these letters could you please let us know? You can employ a Land Agent for advice, and the costs can then be claimed from National Grid. We have further information available to help decide what to do should anyone want it. We are pleased that some people who have decided to allow the surveys to go ahead have offered to donate the payment that they get to our campaign fund. These donations are most welcome.

We are told by NG that we will all get an up-date on the results of the initial consultation from them soon, but we don’t know when, or what this will say. After that, the next key event will be the start of the formal (statutory) consultation later in the year, once a more defined route has been selected.

Local and National Media coverage of National Grid’s plans has certainly increased recently. There are over 30 groups like ours across the UK fighting similar schemes. Some political resistance is also now being seen, mostly from the Reform Party so far.

It remains clear that there is a hard fight ahead, unless and until the current Labour Government and National Grid decide to change their policies. It is therefore so important that as residents of Morley, we all play our part in challenging the plans. This might involve signing online petitions, putting up banners or bat boxes, writing to your MP or councillors or coming up with your own ideas.

It’s a team effort to save our beautiful village from being surrounded by 50 metre pylons, so please don’t leave it all to us as, although we are committed, we don’t have unlimited time and energy!

FEBRUARY 2025

It’s been a while since we posted an up-date on the campaign. Rest assured that we have continued to engage with a number of relevant parties, including local MPs, The Woodland Trust, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, the BBC, and other affected parishes.

We have formed a group of around 40 representatives from across the route, and other campaign groups, in an effort to coordinate actions. We meet monthly. We continue to post relevant media links, surveys etc on here which we would encourage you to read and action where needed.

The most recent development has been the receipt of land survey request letters from Ardent. These have gone to a number of residents in Morley and beyond and request that a licence agreement enabling access is signed in return for a compensation fee. Everyone that asked for help has been given information on their options. This may involve contacting a land agent for advice.
Details of 3 local land agents who we have spoken to have been passed on. We are pleased that some people who have decided to allow the surveys to go ahead have offered to donate the payment that they get to our campaign fund. These donations are most welcome.

We are told by NG that we will all get an up-date from them soon, but we don’t know when, or what this will say.
After that, the next key event will be the start of the formal (statutory) consultation later in the year, once a more defined route has been selected.

We are a small but dedicated group with limited resources so please do support us by doing all you can in your area to help.

JANUARY 2025

We wanted to update you on what has been happening regarding National Grid since the submission date of 17th September 2024 for the non-statutory consultation.

Parish & Town Councils of villages/towns within the swathe, received a letter from the Planning Inspectorate. In Morley – the letter was received on 14th November although dated 1st November with a deadline to respond of 29th November. This correspondence comprised of a 1,000 page document, with just 14 days to digest it and respond! We contacted all councils asking them to respond to this correspondence.

Linsey Farnsworth (MP for Amber Valley) facilitated two meetings between National Grid and a representative from each Amber Valley Parish Council and campaign group. Although questions from the representatives were submitted a week prior to the dates – answers were still not given. We are calling on Linsey and all other local MPs to actively support our campaign and to challenge National Grid on some of the assertions that they have made.

In the meantime, Ardent/National Grid are sending letters to what seems to be random land owners asking for survey access. If you have received one of these letters could you please let us know? It seems most of those in receipt of this correspondence are employing a Land Agent and the incurred costs can then be claimed from National Grid.

As a Group – we are trying to keep momentum during this lull in proceedings and the Morley Team have chaired meetings with representatives of several parishes throughout the affected swathe. We hope to meet this forum monthly and we welcome agenda items from all sources.

It is easy for us to remain focused and motivated when we consider how these NG proposals could affect our community. However, we understand that the current lull in proceedings may take the focus off this for some of you, but we need all of your support! Please take this opportunity to write to your MP to register your concerns regarding the National Grid Project, routeing and costings which are all questionable. You could also ask for support from your Parish/Town Councils and also any action groups within your locality.

May we take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy 2025 and that National Grid start to really listen to the voices of Derbyshire