About 200 activists gathered in a Suffolk town on Saturday to protest against plans to build electricity substations.

LionLink and Sea Link offshore wind projects Converter stations are planned to be built on the outskirts of Saxmundham and a substation at nearby Friston.

National Grid, which is behind the plans, said the proposed Sea Link, LionLink and Nautilus projects were essential to meeting the government’s clean energy target.

But locals fighting to keep the project out of their town said the infrastructure impact would be “considerable.”

Charlotte Fox, of Saxmundham Against Needs Destruction, said the energy projects would impact “on the population, the economy and the environment” and would offer “no benefit” to the area.

“We have two Scottish Power substations at Friston with the National Grid connection point, so three substations and the important Sizewell nuclear station and the four connection stations at Saxmundham. “It’s a lot,” he said.

Activist Fiona Gilmore, of Offhsore4sure, described the project as “disproportionate”.

“It’s about 30% of Britain’s energy coming through a historic market town,” he said.

Saxmundham town councilor John Findlay said the council believed the projects were in the wrong place.

“There’s a wide variety of opinions in the city. Some people think we should fight tooth and nail. Others say this is going to happen and we should try to get as much mitigation as possible,” he said.

“We are not opposed to energy restructuring, but we believe they are in the wrong place.”

Tom Daley, member of East Suffolk Council, said: “The problem is that this part of Suffolk is becoming a super energy hub.

“All is not lost. We are talking to National Grid and all applicants to bring everything together in a strategic way that is best for our environment and our communities.”

A National Grid spokesperson said: “We will work closely with Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk Council to ensure any construction work is completed with minimal disruption to surrounding areas, subject to Planning Inspectorate approval. “.