ANGRY residents concerned over plans which could see 50m pylons towering over parts of Billericay and Basildon have staged a protest.

Campaigners from the Essex Pylons Action Group protested with banners and placards outside the final consultation event in Basildon being held by National Grid for the Norwich to Tilbury project.

The project is proposing a 184km of pylon network is created to transfer offshore energy to East Anglia and London.

The current route map would see the pylons pass close to Woodlands School, passing around the outskirts of Billericay and through Dunton Hills and Langdon Hills, with campaigners fearing damage to the environment, constant building works, noise, and damage to views.

However, the National Grid has stated that alternative routes would be more expensive, less viable and the plans are essential to keeping the energy network functional throughout the 2030s.

Action group founder Rosie Pearson believes that National Grid has failed to listen to residents and that the plans will prove massively detrimental to people living in Basildon and Billericay.

She said: “There are vast swathes of countryside that for hundreds of years have been untouched and while we accept that the power must be moved and done properly, we feel no alternative has been put to us.

“Offshoring and underground existing infrastructure does exist and we don’t accept that this can be rammed down our throats.

“People in Billericay and Basildon have been worried about how close this goes to urban areas and it is very real now. These pylons will overshadow homes and businesses.”

Campaigner Suzanne Bolwell-Davies added: “People came out of that consultation in the Towngate in tears, people just cannot believe this is being proposed.

“We have a petition and we are trying to build momentum as this is the last planned consultation.”

Liam Walker, project director for Norwich to Tilbury, said: “Our plans are an essential part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the largest overhaul of our energy network in a generation.

“By developing this project, we will be able to connect new sources of low carbon energy to homes and business across East Anglia and Britain so that everyone has access to cleaner, more affordable electricity.”