Panoramic banner picture, Lewes Castle, Seven Sisters, Polegate windmill, Newhaven Harbour

Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency

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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info

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2007 press releases

Local MP condemns the government's refusal to remove electricity pylon eyesore

Local Lib Dem MP, Norman Baker, has today received official confirmation that the Department of Trade and Industry has refused to remove the highly intrusive electricity pylon at Southerham, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or underground any of those down the Ouse Valley towards Newhaven.

The local MP, who introduced a debate on the issue in the House of Commons early last year, has repeatedly called into question the proper conduct of the Department for Transport in erecting the pylon in the first place and asked the present government to remedy the situation by using the forthcoming A27 construction work as a cost-effective opportunity to underground the cable.

The pylon was erected in 1974 on the understanding that it would provide a temporary diversion of underground cabling during the construction of the then A27 Southerham Bypass but has remained in place for the last 33 years.

Commenting on today’s decision, Norman Baker said:

"It is extremely disappointing that, after more than three decades of deliberating, the Government have today refused to accept their moral duty to right the wrongs of the past and underground the electricity cables at Southerham.

"Thanks to this Government’s short-sighted approach to such matters it looks as though the ghastly pylon, which blots the local landscape, is here to stay for the foreseeable future."