Join the Movement to
Save Amber Valley
E N V I R O N M E N T
The National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) are proposing to build a new 60km overhead electricity line using 50m steel lattice pylons from Chesterfield to Willington. Part of this proposal is to route these lines through the beautiful and picturesque regionally significant landscape of the Amber Valley. We are an action group working together to
STOP THE PYLONS.
We support the UK’s demands for green energy, but we believe there are more suitable ‘brown field’ routes for this scheme.
We are concerned that National Grid is putting the profits of its shareholders ahead of this unique habitat which is an important amenity for surrounding towns and villages, as well as a vital source of tourism revenue for the challenged local economy,
National Grids Proposal
The National Grid are wanting to upgrade their system by
erecting huge pylons on route from Chesterfield to Willington.
The National Grid is proposing to undertake a project that involves destroying our countryside and posing a threat to the local wildlife. This has raised concerns among the community and environmentalists alike.
Below is a map outlining the route they propose to use.
As you can see it begins in Chesterfield and winds through
to Derbyshire countryside, instead of taking the straight forward route running alongside the motorways. It eventually ends in Willington.
How to Save
Amber Valley
Save Amber Valley is a dedicated movement striving to prevent the construction of electric pylons that threaten the scenic beauty of Derbyshire's Amber Valley. We are committed to preserving this cherished landscape and promoting sustainable practices for the well-being of our community and the preservation of the landscape and ecosystems that thrive here.
The Amber Valley is part of the Derbyshire Peak Fringe, an important transition between the Derbyshire uplands and lowlands, providing pathways for species to migrate and considered a landscape of extremely high quality. The variety of ancient woodlands, steep hills and priority habitat lowland meadow contribute to this unique landscape.
Ogston reservoir, within the valley, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and homes thousands of migratory wintering birds and the Valley is a recognised haven for wildlife and protected birds such as Osprey and Peregrine Falcons.
Ogston Hall, a Grade II* building of national importance, Wingfield Manor, under the care of English Heritage, and over 50 other listed buildings within the conservation area or overlooking the valley, are important as much for their relationship to the Valley and its setting.
As well as an important amenity for the towns and villages across the region, the Amber Valley also generates much needed income for the local economy from tourists and walkers, especially since the whole scale disappearance of larger employers from the area, and the challenge on farming revenues.
How you can help
To enable us to fund further studies we ask for your generosity in donating what you can so as to put us into a strong position to fight this battle further.
There are 3 ways you can donate:-
1) SAVE Group bank account with The Royal Bank of Scotland:-
Account Number: 19431115
Sort Code: 16-00-38
Account Name: Save Amber Valley Environment
2) Just Giving - follow 'Donate' below
3) For Cash or Cheques, this can be given to the Higham Group Treasurer Catherine Harris
email catherine@quarryfarm.co.uk or mobile 07557 958128
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like further details of how the funds donated are managed. All funds donated go to the cause. At the end of this campaign any surplus funds will be donated to a local community group/ charity.
Volunteers
We are also looking for volunteers and ideas for fundraising. Please reach out to us if you are willing to get involved in fundraising activities in support of our campaign
What’s been happening?
The Stage One Consultation for the proposed Chesterfield to Willington route for National Grids 50 metre high pylons ended on 17th September. Thanks to everyone that submitted their feedback to National Grid. There has been a tremendous response from everyone along the proposed route and especially within and around the Amber Valley.
Since the Consultation was announced, the SAVE Group has been busy generating awareness through various sources of media coverage and holding meetings with the local community, businesses and organisations, to gather peoples’ opinions and concerns and collect information to help understand the impact that the proposed route through the Amber Valley will have.
Based upon your feedback the SAVE Group submitted a report to National Grid which highlighted the significant harm that we believe the route will deliver to the Amber Valley environment, biodiversity, historic heritage and the local economy.
We also engaged with other stakeholders including, parish, district and county councils, to ensure that they were aware of the strength of feeling in the community and also provide them with the local knowledge and insights that would help them in their dialogue with National Grid.
Thanks to the money that we raised from Amber Valley residents we were also able to commission a report from a Planning and Energy Development Consultant. This report reviewed National Grid’s original Strategic Option Report raising significant concerns about their process and therefore ultimately their conclusions that the Chesterfield to Willington route makes the most economic sense for the UK taxpayer compared to other routes originally considered.
More Urgent Work is Needed
As National Grid review everyone's feedback, the SAVE Group will continue to make urgent representation via stakeholders and where possible directly with National Grid to ensure that we do everything we can to save the Amber Valley from this devastating scheme.
This work will also involve the commissioning of additional more detailed route and environmental studies to provide more evidence to further underpin our submissions to National Grid so far and support our strong belief that the Amber Valley is not the right route for this scheme
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“Protecting Amber Valley is not just a choice; it's our responsibility to future generations.”
― Save Amber Valley