11/12/2025
While Reform candidates have only just jumped on the bandwagon, our Cllr Amanda Paget - Smalley, Shipley, Horsley Woodhouse and Mapperley has been fighting this for a while…
Derbyshire Conservatives have led the opposition to the mega pylons from the start - not just talking about it, but taking real action. From being the only local authority to formally oppose the plans during the 2024 consultation, to pushing motions earlier this year and driving the campaign to secure National Landscape status for Amber Valley, the work has been consistent.
Meanwhile, Reform have only recently discovered the issue, and still can’t say whether they’ll continue the National Landscape work already underway. Saying the right words is easy - backing them up is what actually matters.
WE SAY NO TO THE MEGA PYLONS!
While Reform councillors and candidates have only recently jumped on a bandwagon to oppose the National Grid's mega pylon proposals, Derbyshire Conservatives have been consistently fighting them from the very outset. And not just with words, but actions too!
✍ The then Conservative-run County Council was the only authority in Derbyshire to formally oppose the proposals when they were first consulted on in late 2024. All the other Labour-run District and Borough Councils refused to do so.
🚫 We put forward a motion back in March this year to reiterate our opposition to the mega pylons, as well as solar farms, battery sites and Labour's massive housing target increases.
🌳 Back in October 2024, we launched a campaign to have the Amber Valley area formally recognised as a National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) which would have created a major stumbling block for National Grid to overcome and force them to rethink the current route through the heart of our beautiful county.
✅ Not only that, but in February 2025 we also agreed to formally progress the National Landscape campaign, directing officers to begin the work of building the evidence base and convincing the Government to agree to designate it.
During yesterday's motion debate on this issue, we asked the new Reform administration at the County Council to confirm whether they were still progressing this National Landscape campaign, or whether they'd scrapped it. Sadly, no answer was forthcoming, so we've written to them inviting them to re-commit to work we started.
Reform are clearly happy to say the right words on this issue. But are they prepared to back it up with the right actions? Time will tell!
