By early August 2008, NG had identified 23 possible sites.
They invited the planning officers from four local planning authorities and representatives
of CAPRI to attend a meeting on 19th August 2008 to discuss their proposals
for reducing 23 sites to a shortlist.
On 18th
August 2008 - the day before the planned meeting - they issued Factsheet 7 which gives details of the PRI.
That leaflet contains the following statements:
“We have consulted … at each stage of the siting evaluation planning
officers from the relevant local authorities… and CAPRI”
“For the third stage of the process, the remaining possible
sites were subjected to a more detailed technical, environmental, operational
and cost appraisal, and we also took into account the finding set out in the Inspectors’
report. This narrowed the number of potential sites for the new PRI to two, at
either Flat Farm, off the B4213 to the east of Tirley AGI,
or to the west of Tirley AGI, on the northern
site of the B4211.”
The Factsheet says that CAPRI (and
the planning officers) have been consulted at each stage of the process.
Clearly that statement is false.
It also made us furious. See our letter to NG here.
CAPRI has not
endorsed any site proposed by National Grid.
If you believe the picture shown on the leaflet issued by NG ('Factsheet 7') in which it was really quite difficult to see any sign of a PRI, then you should know that the plans which they have submitted show that the chimneys will remain clearly visible for at least 10 years, and possibly a lot more - until the trees which would be planted mature. You might be disappointed to know that all the trees will all be deciduous - 6 months a year of no landscaping!
When NG claims to have consulted local residents, remember that they held their 'consultation' meeting with the people of Corse and Staunton on 28th August - the height of the school holidays. Can they really be serious?
As an example of how difficult it is to get from NG a simple answer to a simple question, have a look at this letter we wrote to NG on 5th December and how they responded!