Great British countryside

A powerful initiative to boost electricity supplies in Derby has been completed – part of our continuing investment to further improve supply reliability and customer service levels.

Linesmen Paul Douggie and Glen Tolley with Technician Paul Squires (centre).

The latest initiative involved removing nine 22 metre steel towers and 1km of overhead power lines that ran through the outskirts of Alvaston Country Park.

The circuit, one of the original tower construction designs from the 1930s, has been replaced with new underground cables. The work will help to safeguard supply reliability to around 5,000 homes and businesses in the Pride Park, Raynesway and Alvaston areas as well as well as improve the views of the surrounding countryside.

“It ensures that we can provide a high level of service to Derby long term, by improving the infrastructure and security of our electricity network,” said Simon Havill, WPD’s Distribution Manager for Derby.

Extensive nature survey work and the use of specialist contractors all formed a key part of the project.

Now complete, the views across the region have been much improved and this rural corner of Derbyshire has been restored to its former habitat.