CAMPAIGNERS have slammed Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer after he claimed voters will have to accept huge 50m pylons running close to homes or face higher taxes.

Essex Pylons Action Group founder, Rosie Pearson, condemned Sir Keir’s comments and urged the Government to look at alternatives including underground cables.

The plans to build new pylons between Norwich and Tilbury, including close to Woodlands School, around the outskirts of Billericay and through Dunton Hills and Langdon Hills, have been met with widespread opposition.

Ms Pearson also said his assertion the installation of pylons below ground would lead to higher taxes was wrong, and a “proper conversation” needs to be had regarding cheap and modern solutions, rather than the “relentless pylons-focused rhetoric”.

She said: “The Norwich to Tilbury pylons route will cut through countryside near Basildon and Billericay, impacting farmers and businesses, and destroying much needed wildlife habitats.

“Starmer is wrong to say taxes are affected by the grid upgrade. They are not. Infrastructure is paid for via electricity bills.

“He is also wrong to think pylons are the cheapest way. New-style undergrounding, which our prime minister seems to be unaware of, is cheaper than pylons.

“Integration offshore grid is cheaper than the current approach, and upgrading our existing grid using the most up-to-date technologies is the cheapest and least damaging option of all.

“We need a proper conversation about the options, learning from the US, Germany and Belgium, not a relentless pylons-focused rhetoric.”

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

Campaigners have raised concerns regarding the environment, constant building works, noise, and damage to views.

The Prime Minister said: “If you want lower energy bills, we’re going to have to have pylons above the ground.

“Yes, there is the option to put them below the ground – it costs much more money, and if there’s one consistent theme into and out of the last election, it’s that most people feel they’re already paying too much tax, and I don’t think many would put their hand up to pay more tax in relation to that.”