After Southwest Water telling us for nearly ten years now, that they cannot cope with the rate of build, in terms of water and sewerage infrastructure, let alone flood-prevention planning, we now have Western Power holding on for dear life, as demand far outstrips current power grid capabilities. Below is an interesting discussion between one local home-owner and seemingly disinterested Cornwall Councillors, including our now infamous chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, Dulcie Tudor:
From: kevin bennetts <kevin.bennetts@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 4:56:48 PM
To: Simon.Mansell@cornwall.gov.uk, Tudor Dulcie CC; Kaczmarek Mark CC; Kennally Kate <kate.kennally@cornwall.gov.uk>; Taylor Linda CC; Egerton Bob CC; Eathorne-Gibbons Mike CC Mitchell Andrew CC
Subject: THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT BUT REALLY SHOULD BE.
The one thing not being talked about is the electricity distribution grid which could be a hidden crisis due to increasing solar output, and which it is currently incapable of handling in its present configuration... This is possibly going to make the existing issues like increasing traffic congestion and A&E deficiencies at Treliske seem inconsequential, if power blackouts become a regular feature, unless the grid undergoes a major upgrade at a cost of £ hundreds of millions.
Maria Jayne: That's interesting. I bet very few know about that!
Kevin Bennetts: Too blooming right they don't and I might add are almost certainly not meant to... Western Power do a great job of maintaining our power supplies, but it must be struggling to maintain service at times, with a grid that has not seem much investment for decades... This came to light purely by chance because I intend installing a solar array and batteries to take my property’s power usage off grid... The time is right for this due to the remarkable advances in battery technology, highlighted at a recent community energy event in Stithians... However the consultant engineer I have engaged to handle the project informed me that Western Power have the final say on the size of any micro solar array, if power is going to be exported, due to the local grid’s potential inability to absorb the power produced... To me this negates the benefits of installing solar panels and storage batteries, which flies in the face of the climate emergency recently declared by Cornwall Council... This issue is almost certainly due to the strain being placed on the local grid system by the thousands of new houses already drawing power from it without the further massive power draws in the pipeline due to rapid development... The other issue being why planners are not insisting that every suitable new roof be compelled to have a solar array fitted... If what the consultant engineer told me is fact, that would explain a lot... In the meantime, this would add considerable weight to a campaign for a house building moratorium until the necessary works to reinforce our power grid to make it fit for purpose have been carried out... In my opinion, given the circumstances of the climate emergency, it would be very hard for anyone to make a reasonable argument against this... The environmental bonus apart from future proofing the grid, would be the opening up of the power export market to micro producers without restriction dictated by grid limitations, which should never exist in a genuinely sustainable community... In my opinion everyone capable of doing so should be looking to do something.
From: Tudor Dulcie CC <dulcie.tudor@cornwallcouncillors.org.uk>
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2020 12:09:05 PM
To: kevin bennetts <kevin.bennetts@hotmail.com>; Mansell Simon
Subject: RE: THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE…
Dear Mr Bennetts,
The issue you raise at the start of this email trail does not fall within my Division. I believe you are not a resident of Threemilestone and Gloweth therefore not contacting me as your Cornwall Councillor? Nor does it fall within my purview on Cornwall Council.
Therefore I will politely request (for the second time) that you omit me from future correspondence unless the matter has specific reference to my Divisional role or to a specific planning application arising before either the Central Planning Committee or the Strategic Planning Committee.
Thank you.
Cllr. Dulcie Tudor.
From: kevin bennetts <kevin.bennetts@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2020 12:21:01 PM
To: Tudor Dulcie CC <dulcie.tudor@cornwallcouncillors.org.uk>; Mansell Simon
Subject: RE: THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE…
Dear Councillor Tudor,
You are being addressed as the Chair of Strategic Planning, in which role it would be reasonably expected that you inform yourself of potential issues that relate to planning deliberations.
Please rest assured that I have no more wish to communicate with you than you with me, but unfortunately needs must, due to the position you currently choose to occupy.
Yours aye
Kevin Bennetts
From: Tudor Dulcie CC <dulcie.tudor@cornwallcouncillors.org.uk>
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2020 12:37:41 PM
To: kevin bennetts <kevin.bennetts@hotmail.com>; Mansell Simon
Subject: RE: THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE…
Dear Mr Bennetts,
In my capacity as Chair of Cornwall Council Strategic Planning Committee I am willing and able to engage with you on specific planning applications coming before the committee, not planning matters in a wider context.
I have sought to explain the remit of my Role as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee with you in previous correspondence. Perhaps I have not been clear? I will ask that you are provided with more easy understandable definition of my position.
If you have broader concerns about the Council which relate to planning my advice would be you contact the Portfolio Holder for Planning Cllr. Bob Egerton, who I see is already copied in to your email.
Thank you.
Cllr. Dulcie Tudor.
From: kevin bennetts <kevin.bennetts@hotmail.com>
Sent: 16 January 2020 13:06
To: Tudor Dulcie CC <dulcie.tudor@cornwallcouncillors.org.uk>; Mansell Simon
Subject: RE: THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE…
Dear Councillor Tudor,
I note your response and appreciate the advice and definition contained therein; I repeat that I reserve the right to have my say when necessary within those parameters.
My best advice to both yourself and Councillor Egerton being, to avoid ostrich mode by not burying your collective heads in the sand, simply because you happen to personally disapprove of the person bearing the message.
All council taxpayers are stakeholders in Cornwall’s future and whose views should be listened to, even if you do not agree.
The matter raised is highly relevant, particularly to the positions both you and Councillor Egerton currently occupy, because you really should be informed by grassroots issues and opinions that directly affect your stakeholders, from whom you both sought election to serve.
Currently, it is largely thanks to the consummate professionalism of Western Power’s staff that we are not regularly plunged into darkness; I suggest that the local power grid needs urgent and serious investment in order to avoid future problems, which is why I am doing my bit by making a considerable investment in my own power provision, as a response to the climate emergency that has been declared.
That is why I attended and wholeheartedly support the recent Stithians Community Energy initiative - where you were also present - with regard the green energy.
Otherwise, without the research I have done as a result, I might still be as much in the dark as you appear to be, with regard the status of our local power distribution grid.
Yours aye
Kevin Bennetts
More and more power cuts occurring regularly across homes in Cornwall; coincidence??
www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/live-updates-500-homes-left-3757433
www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/live-updates-power-cuts-affect-3195206
www.cornwalllive.com/news/local-news/nearly-1000-properties-hit-power-3474142 (Falmouth area)
www.cornwalllive.com/news/power-cuts-leave-hundreds-homes-3468272
www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/live-updates-saltash-power-cut-3738100
www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2019-05-23/more-than-1-000-homes-without-power-in-truro-following-high-voltage-incident/ (Truro area)