Guardians of the East Coast

About us

GOTEC is a diverse, grassroots organisation committed to preserving the natural beauty and quality of life of Lincolnshire's coastline. United across all backgrounds and political allegiances, we stand against this massive and unnecessary industrialisation threatening valuable agricultural land, beautiful and wildlife-rich coast, and the wider Lincolnshire hinterland.

In 2022, a whistle-blower, notified the BBC about secret negotiations between Nuclear Waste Services and Lincolnshire County Council. Those negotiations were the forerunner for investigations into the siting of a nuclear waste disposal facility at the old Conoco gas terminal in Theddlethorpe. Outraged by the thought of this unspoilt area of Lincolnshire being even thought of for hosting highly radioactive nuclear waste beneath the sea just off our coastline and with above ground facility of around one square kilometre in footprint, campaigners formed a group, The Guardians of the East Coast (GOTEC).

 

Subseqently, GOTEC has led the fight against further emerging threats to our beautiful landscapes and agricultural heritage. Each threat demanding response to protect our area and livelihoods against reckless industrialisation.

GOTEC SUCCESS AGAINST NWS GIANTS

In June 2025, GOTEC were delighted at the successful withdrawal by Lincolnshire County Council from the Theddlethorpe Community Partnership leading to a substantial victory for GOTEC, the east Coast and residents from the perils of a Nuclear Waste Storage facility.

 

This victory represents a "victory for community, transparency and common sense...communities can prevail when they come together" - GOTEC spokesperson.

GOTEC STANDS AGAINST CURRENT THREATS

GOTEC has taken a stand against further threats including a Carbon Capture project from Immingham, county wide pylons and flexible energy generation facilities.

CO2 PIPELINE FROM IMMINGHAM

Harbour Energy and BP plan to build a Carbon Capture facility at it's Immingham refinery. To then transport the CO2 at pressure to Theddlethorpe, before dumping it below the North Sea.

 

This method has proved dangerous and requires similar energy to capture than it saves.

 

This threat is yet another attempt to sweep the CO2 under the rug. 

GRIMSBY TO WALPOLE PYLONS

 National Grid seeks to construct 420 pylons and five substations across Lincolnshire under the banner of "upgrading" infastructure. 

 

This project is a foundation for many other projects at the expense of farmland, communities and the unqiue and beautiful lanscapes across Lincolnshire. 

THEDDLETHORPE FLEXIBLE ENERGY GENERATION

This early stage project seeks to construct combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT) and battery storage to generate electricity from either natural gas supply or hydrogen. 

 

This project seeks to use underground cables to link thermal facilities and electrolysis to battery storage and generation facilities across East Lindsey.

 

This threat represents another attempt to industrialise our landscape and generate energy that will not benefit the community.