Weekly Column
When I attended a recent parish council meeting in West Norfolk one of the issues people raised with me was opposing the plans for the Wisbech incinerator. I explained that the successful campaign against an incinerator in King’s Lynn demonstrated we didn’t need it, and that I opposed this development and have been supporting Steve Barclay MP's campaign against the plans highlighting strong concerns of local residents.
So it was extremely disappointing last week when a decision notice was issued granting development consent for the Wisbech incinerator. However, the next day the Planning Inspectorate removed this notification stating that “clarification is being sought on this decision.”
Following that statement, I reiterated my opposition to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero outlining the damaging impact it would have on local communities and other issues. Earlier this week, I raised this issue in the House of Commons and said these plans were wholly inappropriate for the area, would mean 300 hundred lorry journeys a day, a structure bigger than Ely Cathedral, are near a school, and raise environmental and health concerns.
Despite the strength of opposition the planning consent decision has now been confirmed. However, the developer also needs an environmental permit to operate, which has not yet been granted, and the planning decision may be subject to judicial review.
A second issue that came up at the parish council meeting was National Grid’s plans for a new high voltage electricity transmission line and substations which involve running pylons from Grimsby to Walpole. Aside from the visual impact, these proposals would potentially affect agricultural land when we need to enhance food security. There is a consultation currently open and I encourage people to respond setting out their views. While we need to improve energy grid connections, we should be considering approaches that minimise the impact on our countryside. www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/network-and-infrastructure/infrastructure-projects/grimsby-to-walpole
Last week I visited a local farming business growing and supplying high quality produce to food manufacturers. Their carrots and other products end up on plates and in supermarkets across the country. Overall, the UK is around 60 per cent self-sufficient in food – some sectors are largely self-sufficient – and shocks in food inflation caused by the illegal war in Ukraine underline the importance of home grown produce.
That’s why I worked with other MPs to pressure supermarkets to do more including through a Buy British section on their websites. Three major supermarkets have now signed up and they can do more to give farmers a fairer deal and ensure sustainable supply chains. And a new food security index is being introduced by the government to strengthen our domestic market.
Finally, Norfolk is on track for the wettest February on record and I continue to assist constituents affected by flooding in Pott Row, Royston, Grimston, Burnhams, Creakes, Brancaster and elsewhere. I am taking up their cases with Anglian Water, Norfolk County Council, the Environment Agency and others to try and assist through tankering water away and other measures. Clearly, a review of networks and pumping stations and better co-ordination of relevant organisations is needed once this flooding to better protect people and businesses in the future.
First published in Lynn News, 1 March 2024
