Polly has added her voice to the calls for National Grid to rethink the controversial Sea Link project.
The plan, which would involve running undersea cables through Pegwell Bell and then connecting them overland to a new electricity converter station in Minster Marshes, has been strongly opposed by environmental campaigners.
Writing in the Isle of Thanet Gazette, Polly told constituents she had approached the plans with an open mind, but that she had come to the conclusion that the potential damage to critical habitats and ecosystems meant an alternative route for the cables should be sought.
She said:
I have spent my career working to ensure that the UK plays its role in tackling climate change, so I know the importance of building the infrastructure we need to make the transition to clean, renewable energy.
I recognise that when it comes to building that infrastructure, there will have to be compromises. And having spoken to many constituents over the past year, I know that most residents in East Thanet understand that too.
And as anyone who has opened their energy bill over the past few years will know, homegrown renewable energy will be more reliable and cheaper than depending on volatile fossil fuel markets controlled by dictators like Vladimir Putin.
But that doesn’t mean that every project, everywhere, is the right one. In the race to secure our energy independence, we must not forget to scrutinise what is being proposed and challenge what does not make sense. We only have one chance to build the infrastructure to connect our fabulous new offshore wind projects with our homes, so for the sake of future generations we need to make sure that we do it right.
Which leads me on to my concerns about the destruction of nature – concerns that I know are passionately shared by so many in East Thanet. Pegwell Bay and Minster Marshes are precious. The bay is home to Kent’s largest population of seals, while the marshes provide a vital habitat for a variety of protected species, such as the golden plover, beavers, and water vole.
This is a vital wildlife corridor and nationally important ecosystem that we risk disrupting at our peril. It is right that Thanet District Council has refused permission to National Grid to access the national nature reserve for this project. This land and the species on it are precious.
The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, with scientists suggesting that more than 50% of our historic biodiversity has already been lost. And we know that the climate crisis is also a crisis of nature, so we cannot afford to sacrifice one for the sake of the other – tackling both problems goes hand in hand. This Government was elected on a platform to restore nature and to shift rapidly to clean energy. National Grid’s plans must be revised to reflect this commitment, so we achieve both.
With that in mind, I have listened carefully to the concerns of constituents, and I have looked carefully at the evidence presented to me by National Grid, concerned wildlife charities, and energy industry experts. The conclusion I have reached is that this project should not be going ahead in its present form.
What many people do not know is that National Grid is not a branch of government – it is a private company. And the simple truth is that they are choosing to run the Sea Link Cable through Minister Marshes because – when presented with five options – this option was the cheapest.
But while National Grid’s bottom line might be their overriding concern, residents in Thanet want assurances that protecting our precious natural heritage is also being taken into consideration. This is about our local landscape and how we preserve and protect vital natural assets that support our efforts to tackle climate change too.
I know many of you have made your feelings known through the consultation on this project that closed in August, and I would urge National Grid to look carefully at what you have said, and to act on it. There is still time for National Grid to reconsider these plans and look again at the alternatives.