Electrical makeover for Grantham

Over £1million is being spent on a major initiative to boost power supplies in Grantham.

The first stage of this new initiative which started in January 2015 involves the laying of approximately 10km of 11,000 volt underground cables from the north side of Grantham to connect to existing infrastructure in the town.

This work will help to further safeguard supply reliability to more than 10,000 customers in the Manthorpe Estate, Alma Park Estate and Great Gonerby areas. It will also better accommodate any increased demands placed on the power network in the future for additional developments.

The second phase of the work which is due to be completed by the end of the year involves the removal of 2.5km of overhead lines and 30 wooden poles between Gonerby, Belton, Syston and Barkston, and the installation of new substations in Manthorpe and Belton.

The circuit will also be fitted with remote controlled equipment which will enable power to be re-routed to an alternative circuit in the event of a fault, without any disruption to customers’ supplies.

“It ensures that we can provide a high level of service to these areas in the long term by improving the infrastructure and security of our electricity network,” said Robert Ballentine, WPD’s Team Manager for the area.

“While this work is being undertaken, our aim is to keep any disruption to an absolute minimum. We have been speaking with Lincolnshire County Council to ensure our work is co-ordinated and to minimise traffic disruption in the area. We have also kept customers and businesses along the route informed by letter,” he said.

The project forms part of WPD’s commitment to provide a consistently high level of service to customers. Around £2billion will be invested by the company on its electricity network between 2010 and 2015.