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News

Friday 26 February

An important victory

An independent body has backed claims from protest groups that they were not consulted properly, and it has told the National Grid to think again.

BBC News article

Tuesday 19 January

North Somerset MP Liam Fox speaks in the House of Commons questioning the lack of democracy in the pylons planning process

On Tuesday 19 January local MP Dr Liam Fox raises the issue of lack of accountability to Government in this new planning process. You can watch the Adjournment Debate live on Tuesday evening at:
www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Live.aspx
Or view footage afterwards at:
www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Archive.aspx (search for the evening House of Commons session from Tuesday 19 January)

Friday 8 January

National Grid extend the consultation deadline to 22nd January 2010

We have just heard that National Grid are extending the consultation period for the Hinkley C Connection Project to 22 January as some local councils have been unable to meet this week due to adverse weather conditions. So if you do come across anyone who thinks it is too late to write, do tell them that they still have time. Read more here

Thursday 7 January

Thank you so much to everyone who joined in with the Winter Walks on Saturday, an amazing 700+ people took part.

Save Our Valley Newsheet 7 Jan 2010 (PDF)

Monday 4 January

Hundreds of people supported the SOV campaign by taking a Winter Walk through our upspoilt valley on a beautiful day this weekend.

Supporters gathering before the start of the walk at Backwell Lake

Click here to see some photographs of the walk

Tuesday 22 December

North Somerset MP Dr Liam Fox wrote to National Grid after our Public Meeting asking them to clarify key issues (click here to see his letter).

He has now received a reply from National Grid (click here to read it) which says nothing new and which, with its bland statements, is an insult to our MP. Take a look and do write to Dr Fox to tell him what you think:

Thursday 3 December 2009

The film of the SOV Meeting on Friday 27th November is now available

Click here to view

Wednesday 2 December 2009

Carol Vorderman: TV presenter, engineer, maths genius and local resident supports the 'Save Our Valley' campaign in the national press.

The Independent - Carol Vorderman backs fights against power pylons
Bristol Evening Post - Carol Vorderman backs North Somerset power line campaign

Poster/placard locations wanted

If you think that you have a good location where you can place a poster or placard then please email John Mash or phone/text details to 0794 879 6383. We will get you one as soon as we can.

Monday 30 November 2009

The Big event at Backwell Lake will be on SATURDAY 2 JANUARY 2010

Please note that our big event at Backwell Lake will be on SATURDAY 2 JANUARY 2010. (We had previously thought it would be on 5 December but the date is now confirmed for 2 January – please do pass the message on.) We’ll give you full details nearer the time – and we do have a Plan B in case the weather is bad so keep the date free if you possibly can.

Up to 1,000 people tried to get in to our Public Meeting on Friday

We estimate that up to 1,000 people tried to get in to our Public Meeting on Friday – apologies to everyone who couldn’t fit in but remember that just by turning up you sent a very powerful message to National Grid that their consultation process is deeply flawed and we will not lie down and accept their views on what should happen to the place we know and love. We are working to get the film of the whole event on the website ASAP and we will send round a full update on next steps very soon.

Thanks so much to everyone who came on Thursday and Friday last week to the events at Scotch Horn. Particular thanks to all of the volunteers who helped with make everything work so smoothly.

Sue Turner

Wednesday 25 November 2009

National Grid now reject the possibility of underground or under sea cabling

National Grid have today amended the FAQ (frequently asked questions) page on their website to include one which rejects both underground and sea cabling.

Read more here

Wednesday 25 November 2009

First, thanks so much to all of you who have made donations to the cause through the website and by cheque. The fighting fund is building up very quickly – thank you!

Now we need EVERYONE to do their bit.

1. Save Our Valley are organising a protest on Thursday 26 November outside the Scotch Horn Centre in Nailsea (where National Grid will be holding their exhibition). The purpose will be to show National Grid that people care deeply about this area and that our views cannot be ignored.

   If you possibly can, please come and join in (and bring your friends) at 2.15pm this Thursday at Scotch Horn.

   Make a poster/placard if you can - eg Save Our Valley - don't surround Nailsea with pylons.

   One important thing to remember - we WANT people to go into the exhibition and talk to National Grid so we must NOT do anything that will stop people from getting inside.

2. The big Save Our Valley Public Meeting starts at 7.30pm on Friday (also at Scotch Horn). Local MP Liam Fox has confirmed that he will be there and National Grid have confirmed they are coming and will answer three key questions:
   • Why not put the cables under the sea/underground?
   • How much does public opinion affect the decision?
   • If Corridor 1 is chosen, will National Grid move pylons well away from people’s homes?

   And of course we’ll pack in as many questions from the audience as possible too.
   Come and have your say.

Thanks! See you at 2.15 on Thursday and 7.30 on Friday.

Sue Turner.

Tuesday 24 November 2009

HUGE CROWDS EXPECTED TO ATTEND PUBLIC MEETING IN NAILSEA OVER NATIONAL GRID’S PYLON PLANS

HUGE crowds are expected to come to a public meeting in Nailsea on Friday (November 27) organised by campaigners fighting to stop National Grid plans to ringfence the town with pylons.

The meeting, which will be attended by local MP, Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox, has been organised by the Save Our Valley group.

Spokeswoman Sue Turner said: “National Grid have finally agreed to come to our meeting after a lot of procrastination and persuasion. We are delighted Dr Fox is going to host the question and answer session and he has been very supportive of our cause."

“This is going to be a chance for National Grid to comprehend fully how people feel about their plans. It seems like a David and Goliath situation but this big company must listen to the little people here who have to live long-term with their decisions."

Save Our Valley campaigners are also set to protest at the Scotch Horn Centre in Nailsea, the day before the public meeting on Thursday 26 November at National Grid's exhibition on their controversial plans.

National Grid are believed to have booked the same venue only once they found out the date of the Save Our Valley public meeting. Protesters are expected to gather at 2.30pm.

Sue said: "At first National Grid refused to come to our meeting, then we found out they'd booked their exhibition the day before ours, presumably hoping people wouldn't go out two nights in a row. It feels like underhand tactics by a national company and we hope people will come to both."

National Grid have put forward two routes around the town; Corridor 1, which is to the side of Nailsea where there are already pylons, and Corridor 2, which runs through Wraxall, Backwell and Nailsea and has attracted huge opposition.

The 400,000 volt lines are required to bring electricity 37 miles from the proposed Hinkley C Nuclear Power Station on the Somerset coast near Bridgwater to a sub-station near Avonmouth.

Nearly 2,000 people have joined the Save Our Valley campaign and thousands of leaflets have been sent to local homes.

Sue added: "We've been amazed at the response. Most people want lines underground or out to sea – and either of these options would be great – but National Grid has only offered a land-based option. It is like being asked which hand you want to have cut off – the answer is neither but if we’re not given that choice then we have to deal with it somehow."

The meeting at the Scotch Horn Centre in Nailsea on Friday, November 27, starts at 7.30pm.

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Friday 20 November 2009

Dr Liam Fox MP and National Grid due to attend SOV meeting

Dr Liam Fox MP and National Grid have now confirmed that they will be attending the Save Our Valley Public Meeting on 27 November. National Grid are dictating the terms on which they will attend – chief of which is that they want to be listened to. So do come along prepared to listen… and ask some probing questions.

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North Somerset Council preliminary report imminent

The preliminary report by Officers at North Somerset Council looks set to recommend that Councillors should push for the cables to go undersea and that, if undersea is not possible, the overground route should be option 1A with the pylons placed well away from people’s homes. The Town and Parish Councils are still working on their positions.

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National Grid invited to answer three tabled questions at SOV public consultation meeting on the 27th November 2009

SOV chairman, Keith Edwards, has told National Grid that they must come up with answers to the following three questions:

1. National Grid's Chief Executive Steve Holliday in an interview with the Independent Newspaper in July said that the company has a radical scheme to build new links running down each coast of Scotland and England under the sea. The article said, "It is no more costly than the more conservative upgrade plan. And although there are some challenges - such as shifting the current to DC when it goes offshore, and AC when it comes back on again - none of the technical novelties is a showstopper. "I just don't think anyone ever thought of doing this before," said Mr Holliday."
   Steve Holliday: The undersea secret that's bringing more power to the people
   Since the company is planning undersea routes elsewhere in the country, SOV assumes the National Grid has studied this as a possible option for the Hinkley C to Avonmouth link?
2. On the National Grid website, Project manager Peter Bryant says: "We have no preference as to which corridor is chosen so the views of local people will help us make the decision." Does this mean that the opinions of local people will decide the outcome or are there other criteria that will have greater influence in the decision, if so what are they?
3. If, as many people believe, corridor 1A is the National Grids preferred route, will you work with the local communities to improve the existing pylon layout, for instance by moving the pylons within the proposed corridors away from existing housing?

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Wednesday 18 November 2009

ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE OPPOSE NATIONAL GRID’S MONSTER PYLON PLANS

Opposition continues to grow against National Grid’s pylon plans for the Backwell, Wraxall and Nailsea area. Campaign group Save Our Valley now has 1,500 supporters through its own website and facebook page.

This week more than 160 supporters have volunteered to deliver 12,000 leaflets across the area as well as posters, badges and car stickers. The Save Our Valley leaflets include before and after photographs showing what the area could look like if 150 feet high pylons and high voltage cables are put up.

Save Our Valley spokesman Sue Turner said: “We are delighted that so many people have signed up to support Save Our Valley and are actively campaigning. It is a testament to their commitment to seeing off this threat that local residents are not just giving their support from the comfort of their armchairs.

“Despite the awful weather people are going door to door delivering leaflets, badges and car stickers and making sure that the threat posed by National Grid’s plans is fully understood. We’re still finding that many people haven’t heard about the proposals and are shocked when we tell them. It goes to show what a poor job National Grid has done of informing people.”

Save Our Valley is organising a Public Meeting at Scotch Horn Leisure Centre in Nailsea at 7.30pm on Friday 27 November where people can find out more and get help on how to have their say. Full details are available on the website News and Events page.

For more information please contact Sue Turner on 01275 545620, 0797 007 8277 or email Sue Turner (Campaign Secretary)

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Monday 16 November 2009

It’s been an eventful week since our last update.

Help wanted! Save Our Valley posters are now with us. Is anyone good at woodwork & able to make A3 or A4 sized placards so people can put the posters in their gardens/over hedges and fences? If you’re handy with a hammer and nails and can knock up some placards for us that would be great. Call me on 01275 545620 if you can help.

The BIG public meeting is all set for 27 November from 7.30 to 8.30pm. Come early to get your seat & make sure all your friends and neighbours know this is their chance to discuss the options and get help on what action you need to take now to influence National Grid.

The Save Our Valley leaflets have arrived from the printer and will start being distributed to houses across Wraxall, Backwell and Nailsea in the coming days. Thanks so much to everyone who has volunteered to help with deliveries – look out for the email from Nick Cooper which will tell you what you need to do. (Some areas are kindly being covered by people distributing other information so if you don’t get asked to help this time please don’t be offended – we’ll need you another time).

Money matters – we have made sure that it is free to become a Save Our Valley supporter but it is now costing money to run the campaign (and the Committee’s credit cards only go so far!) So if you can make a donation to help build a fighting fund to fund to see off this proposal (and other threats that may come along in the future) then please send a cheque or postal order payable to “Save Our Valley” to Keith Edwards, Chairman, Save Our Valley, 11 Bucklands View, Nailsea BS48 4TZ. Many thanks.

Thanks so much for your continued support.

Sue

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5 November

Dr Liam Fox, MP for Woodspring News release. PROPOSED PYLON ROUTE THROUGH WOODSPRING

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3 November

News update - 3 November

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30 October

News update - 30 October