Polly has registered as an interested party and made a submission to the Planning Inspectorate’s examination stage inquiry into the Sea Link plan to run a power line through Pegwell Bay and on marshland in the Thanet village of Minster.

In her submission, Polly repeated her long-standing concern about the proposal’s impact on nature and the damage it could cause to Minster Marshes’ vibrant ecosystem and resident wildlife. The MP is also encouraging others to register as an interested party and make their voices heard.

In her submission to National Grid, Polly said:

I am deeply concerned about the potential for this project to cause irreversible damage to nature in Pegwell Bay and Minster Marshes. The bay itself is home to Kent’s largest seal population, and the marshes and salt marsh provide a vital habitat for a variety of protected species, such as the golden plover, beavers, and water voles. This is a nationally important ecosystem that we should absolutely avoid causing permanent damage to.

 

While it is important to build the infrastructure that will help us achieve clean energy, doing it at the expense of rare and irreplaceable natural habitats such as this is extremely damaging. We are in a nature and biodiversity crisis, the UK is in the bottom 10% for biodiversity levels, and we cannot afford to make this situation worse. Nature cannot come at the expense of National Grid’s bottom line. 

 

 I have been inundated with concerns from constituents, both via email and on the doorstep, who are deeply worried about the impact of this project. They care deeply about the natural heritage of their local area, and they want reassurance that this will not be damaged – these reassurances have not been granted.

Previously work completed in the area in 2019 by National Grid, when they installed the Nemo Link interconnector cables, caused permanent damage to the salt marsh and chalk bed – damage that has never been repaired.

Polly added:

I and my constituents have no trust in National Grid to carry out the work and not cause similar damage again. Damage that must be avoided at all costs.

 

 I strongly believe that National Grid needs to revise their plans for Sea Link and explore alternative landing sites where there would be less damage to nature. We have one chance to build the infrastructure of the future, it is vital that we build it in the right places.