PEOPLE in the South-West have until January 8 to comment on National Grid’s plans to connect the proposed new power station at Hinkley Point.

Site owner EDF Energy has asked the company to connect the new station, which will be built adjacent to the existing station.

National Grid says their studies have shown the most efficient and economic method of making the connection will be a new 400,000-volt overhead line from Bridgwater to Seabank substation in Avonmouth.

Studies have identified two potential ‘route corridors’ – stretches of land in which the overhead line could be sited – but before any decisions are made about the route the line will take, National Grid wants to hear the views of local residents.

National Grid major projects manager David Mercer said: “The first phase of public consultation ends on January 8 and so we are encouraging people to give us their views before then. The opinions of local people will play a vital role in the decisions we make.

“This is not the end of public consultation. Consultation on the route alignment will continue right up until National Grid makes an application for a Development Consent Order to the IPC in 2011.”

Members of the public can send their comments to National Grid by completing the project feedback form by clicking the Related Link, below, by e-mail, freepost orby calling the community relations team on 0800-377-7347.