Campaigners continue their fight against pylon plans for Morley

Campaigners protesting against a proposed new electricity pylon route crossing through the borough are continuing with their fight by staging a public meeting.

In the Summer of 2024, the 'Stop The Pylons' group claimed that Morley residents had been 'blindsided' by news from National Grid that they plan to install 50-metre tall 'mega-pylons' carrying 400 kilovolt overhead lines through the parish as part of 'The Great Grid Upgrade'.

The scheme involves miles of installations and runs of overhead lines across UK counties - and locally, a project links Chesterfield to Willington via the Erewash borough, with section 3 running from Ripley to Morley, section 4 from Morley to Ockbrook and section 5 from Ockbrook to Aston-on-Trent.  Following a consultation from May to September 2024, stages of the project run through to construction in 2028 and anticipated completion in 2031.

National Grid previously sent Morley residents information about the proposed pylon route, along with an opportunity to provide feedback via a consultation form. 

Campaigners previously claimed that one of the proposed routes would "almost completely encircle" the parish with some 75% of residents having pylons located within 250m of their homes and many having them much closer. 

Stating that the community feels that current proposals place an unfair and disproportionate burden on the area, campaigners are seeking to have meaningful dialogue with National Grid, to help influence a more collaborative and solution driven outcome that, they say, will more fairly represent and address the concerns of the Morley community. 

Now, 12 months on, campaigners have said that, despite their best efforts, 50-metre pylons are still destined to be installed locally. A statement said that survey teams had already been spotted, and claimed that circling helicopters and aeroplanes were part of the survey work, adding "The threat is real and imminent."

Apeing the campaign-style of a well-known retailer in criticising the Government, it continued: "These are not ordinary pylons - these are M&S pylons - Milliband and Starmer pylons. Towering steel structures, as tall as 15-storey buildings."  The statement alleged that the installations would be a "chain of monstrosities" which were set to "...blight the village, destroy farmland and permanently change the landscape we love", and referenced a battle for the community and environment, suggesting that it was also one for the future of the children of residents of Morley.

Spokesperson Susie Hamilton said: "Of course we recognise the need for power – but not at this terrible cost. We know there are better, more cost effective and less damaging ways for the government / National Grid to achieve their goals and we aim to educate as many people as we can with this information."

A call has been issued for local residents to help in the battle, describing plans for the pylons as a "political vanity projects for vested interests" and detailed an open meeting to be held in the village on Saturday 24th August from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Dumbles View Event Field, Brackley Gate, Morley.

For those that wish to attend, there is ample off-road parking, but participants are encouraged to bring their own chair, food and drink.

For more information on the campaign group, visit www.stopthepylons.co.uk or find them on Facebook under 'Stop The Pylons Derbyshire'