Last updated at 15:47, Friday, 27 April 2012

Workmen are removing one of the last remaining overhead electricity lines in Penrith to improve power supplies in the town.

Electricity North West is permanently removing 11 electricity poles along Newlands Terrace, Newlands Place and Myers Lane as part of an £170,000 investment to maintain the local power network.

The work will help to secure the future electricity supply for the 40 houses supplied by this line, and involved a total of 350m of overhead cable being taken down and replaced with 750m of underground cable.

The cable, which has been in place for over 50 years, previously ran along the back of a row of properties and had become difficult for Electricity North West’s engineers to access and maintain.

The new network has been routed along the front of the properties meaning it is more accessible and easier to repair in case of a fault.

Nigel Armstrong, project engineer at Electricity North West, said: “This is one of the last remaining pieces of overhead line in Penrith and we’ve worked hard to ensure minimum disruption to local residents and motorists in the area while the project has taken place.

“Not only have we improved the look of the area, we’ve increased the future security of the network for local residents.”

First published at 14:06, Friday, 27 April 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk