Miliband’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero agrees, saying many more such developments will be needed to meet the UK’s future needs.

In a statement he said: “Securing Britain’s clean energy future will require more solar and wind farms, as well as improved infrastructure, to deliver this renewable electricity onto the grid. It’s important that we take people with us and think about ways to ensure that communities that live near clean energy infrastructure can benefit from it.

“Completely forgotten”

National Grid says it has been waiting months for proposals on “community benefits” – a system of rewarding residents who find themselves “hosting” tower lines, substations and other infrastructure.

A spokesperson said: “When developing new airlines and associated infrastructure, we always try to avoid communities and individual properties. We recognize that the visual impact is likely to be of concern.

“Communities that host infrastructure should receive equitable and sustainable benefits…A comprehensive and ambitious community benefits framework is essential and should be published by the government as soon as possible. »

Kevin Bentley, chairman of Essex County Council, says politicians should have worked out how to achieve these benefits before launching building programs. He, too, fears that voters will reject the entire net-zero emissions program and switch allegiance to the Reform Party.

He said: “National Grid’s plan to install pylons from Norfolk to Tilbury has so far failed to address some of the most important concerns of councils, communities, landowners and businesses.

“They have yet to provide evidence that they have explored all alternative options for bringing offshore energy onshore, have not addressed how the communities in Essex who would see their local environment ruined by this project would be compensated, nor how the environmental impacts could be mitigated.

Back in Alford, Eric Cooper, 77, takes on National Grid and the government. He tied a lone protest banner to the trees overlooking the fields targeted for the massive new substation.

“No one spoke to us, no one listened to us and our votes don’t count because decisions are made at Westminster,” he says. “We have been completely forgotten.”