A RECENTLY-elected south Essex MP has joined a fight against "160-foot mega pylons" that are part of a huge National Grid project to run power cables through the county.

National Grid is proposing to build approximately 184km of new electricity cables from Norwich to Tilbury, for which it held a consultation from April 10 to July 26. But, Richard Holden, the Tory MP for Basildon and Billericay, is demanding National Grid rethink its plan and consider the wiring being placed underground.

It comes after Basildon Council bosses "argued strongly" for the power lines to be dug into the ground, with Cllr Gavin Callaghan, Labour leader of Basildon Council insisting the calls are to protect greenbelt land and green space.

Posting online Mr Holden said: "I am here just out to the west of Billericay today and I am here because of the mega pylons. I am delighted that Essex County Council is really backing the fight back against these mega pylons alongside Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council as well. I've got no opposition to new infrastructure but it's got to be done in a way that's sympathetic to local people and there are other options available which National Grid really needs to look at.

"Whether that's underground around the coast or underground here. I don't want to see massive 160-foot mega pylons right the way through these green fields with red flashing lights on the top of them permanently. I think that would be a mistake, I think it would be an urbanisation of our area rather than working with our area.

"So I think it's really important we continue to work together, I will be with our fantastic Essex county councillors to push back on these plans, to get National Grid to think again about other solutions. Germany have gone for an underground first option I think it's only right the UK Government looks at that underground first option too, and that's what I will be arguing for on your behalf in Parliament."

National Grid says on its website: "Norwich to Tilbury will play a vital role in delivering electricity efficiently, reliably, and safely and will support the UK's move to reduce carbon emissions. Norwich to Tilbury is a proposal by National Grid Electricity Transmission (National Grid) to reinforce the high voltage power network in East Anglia between the existing substations at Norwich Main in Norfolk, Bramford in Suffolk, and Tilbury in Essex, as well as connect new offshore wind generation.

"We are proposing to build approximately 184 km of new electricity transmission reinforcement between Norwich and Tilbury. This will be made up mostly of overhead line and pylons, along with some underground cables and a new 400 kV substation. Our proposals are part of The Great Grid Upgrade – the largest overhaul of the grid in generations.

"We are now reviewing the feedback received during this consultation to help further refine proposals ahead of submitting our application for a development consent order to the Planning Inspectorate in 2025."