The first phase of public consultation for the connection of the planned nuclear power station at Hinkley Point has now closed.
Since October residents and local authorities have been sending National Grid their comments about the company's proposals to build a new overhead line between Bridgwater and Avonmouth to connect the station to the electricity transmission network.
During the 14-week consultation period more than 2000 feedback forms, around 1100 letters and e-mails, and nearly 100 telephone calls have been received from residents giving their views about the two potential 'route corridors' - stretches of land in which the overhead line could be sited.
National Grid has now started the process of examining the feedback which, along with the engineering and environmental considerations, will determine which corridor is chosen. The decision is expected to be announced in the next two months.
As part of the consultation more than 38,000 households were sent information about the project, 4,500 people attended the 17 public exhibitions held along the route corridors, presentations were given to district councils, 50 parish councils and 50 ward councillors. Documentation was also provided to libraries and council offices in the area.
National Grid major project manager David Mercer said: 'We are in the very early stages of planning this project and the main objective of the public consultation has been to gather the views of the local community.
'No decision has been made about which route corridor option will be taken forward so this feedback from the public will help to inform that decision. Obviously cost is a very important consideration but it is only one factor when we look at the options for the connection.
'We will be aiming for a route which has the best balance of community, environmental, engineering and financial factors.
'We will announce our preferred route corridor once we have examined all the comments and will show how these views have been taken into account in making our decision.'
Following the announcement of the route corridor there will be a detailed environmental impact assessment, discussions with landowners and further public consultation before the precise route of the line is decided.
Consultation on this phase of the project will continue until National Grid makes its application to the Infrastructure Planning Commission for a Development Consent Order in 2011.
National Grid has been asked by EDF Energy to connect its proposed 3600MW power station to be built at Hinkley Point. The new power station will be one of the largest single generators connected to the country’s high voltage system. As a result, the electricity transmission network must be reinforced and upgraded to accommodate the extra power and ensure system security.
Studies have shown that the most efficient and economic method of making the connection will be a new 400,000 volt overhead line connecting Bridgwater and Seabank substation in Avonmouth. Depending upon the final route, the overhead line would be approximately 37 miles long and is planned to be constructed by 2017 at a cost of more than £2 million per mile.
Details of the project can be found at www.nationalgrid.com/hinkleyconnection and the community relations team can be contacted on 0800 377 7347.
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For further media information contact, Jane Taylor, National Grid Media Relations on 0121 333 2640