Friends of the Lake District has welcomed the news that over 6km of overhead electricity cables have been removed in Cumbria.
Areas of Cumbrian National Landscapes – previously known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – are being enhanced by the removal.
Electricity North West has already carried out work this year in both Arnside and Silverdale, and Solway Coast National Landscapes.
Now it is developing plans for running overhead wires underground in the North Pennines National Landscape.
Wooden poles and wires have been removed at New Barns, near Arnside, close to a village playground, café and caravan park. A long stretch of line, over a kilometre, was also taken down at RSPB North Plain on the Solway Coast.
Now, Electricity North West is planning to remove an additional four kilometres of overhead lines at RSPB Forrest Head in the North Pennines. Work is expected to start in the autumn.
The three schemes are part of a five-year, £8 million, undergrounding programme by Electricity North West to improve the look of landscapes across national parks and National Landscapes in the North West region.
The work is thanks to the fact that the energy regulator Ofgem agreed to continue its undergrounding allowance (the money made available to energy providers to place wires underground) last year after successful lobbying by Friends of the Lake District and other organisations, such as the Campaign for National Parks.
Tracey Cuthbertson, who oversees undergrounding schemes for Electricity North West in Cumbria, said: “We’re delighted with the progress we are making in undergrounding overhead lines across National Landscapes in Cumbria.
“The North West’s power network is one of the most reliable in the world and we want to maintain the best supply to our customers. At times, we do understand the overhead lines can impact the local landscapes and that’s why we utilise the scheme to underground overhead lines where possible.”
Friends of the Lake District overhead wires officer Amanda McCleery said: “It is great to see this long-running programme benefiting not only the two national parks within Cumbria, but also its three National Landscapes.
“We appreciate the hard work of Electricity North West staff in these complex schemes, from the design stage right through to construction, which can take many months. The undergrounding allowance, from the energy regulator Ofgem, is making a really positive difference to all these special, nationally protected landscapes.”
Lucy Barron, Arnside & Silverdale’s national landscape manager, added: “The recent undergrounding works in Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape have noticeably improved the stunning views in the New Barns area, which is popular with locals and tourists alike.
“With the additional benefit of reducing the risk of bird-strike, this is a great project in the National Landscape, and we’re so pleased with the results.”
