Eight community events are set to be held in January when National Grid staff tour villages that could be affected by controversial plans for a line of pylons.

MID SUFFOLK: Eight community events are set to be held in January when National Grid staff tour villages that could be affected by controversial plans for a line of pylons.

The proposed set of pylons would stretch between Bramford and Twinstead, near Sudbury, and the electricity giant claims they are needed to accommodate increasing demand and future production.

Three community groups have been set up to oppose the plans with the majority of people fighting the proposals calling for National Grid to place the 400kv cables underground.

Members of Bury not Blight, a community action group based in Kersey that has been backed by comedian Griff Rhys-Jones, has managed to secure a public meeting with National Grid officials.

Four members of the alliance will share the stage with four National Grid employees and the session, which will take place in the New Year, will be open to the public.

The meeting will be chaired by county councillor Kathy Pollard and follows on from a well attended showcase event in the village last month.

Mrs Pollard, who represents the Belstead Brook division, said: “I have been supporting the residents and their ideas to get the cables underground.

“(The discussion) gives people the opportunity to get together and for them to draw some support from each other. It will be a very lively meeting, I think, and we have to recognise the fact that National Grid have got a job to do.”

National Grid spokeswoman Sara Wilcox confirmed the request for the meeting from the campaign group had been accepted but a date had not yet been confirmed.

She said: “National Grid is committed to public consultation and currently has an extensive public consultation event programme underway.

“We have accepted a request from Bury not Blight to attend a meeting in Hintlesham early next year as we feel this will be an opportunity to discuss the issues raised by this group.”

The public events being staged by National Grid take place in Wickham St Paul, Boxford, Assington, Leavenheath, Newton, Bildeston, Monks Eleigh and Kersey.

What do you think about the pylons? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk