23 February 2004 00:00 Ooh-la-la! East Midlands Electricity brings a touch of French flare to Burton upon Trent

East Midlands Electricity (EME) customers in Burton can enjoy an improved electricity supply thanks in part to the entente cordiale.

As part of an ongoing investment programme, EME went across the Channel and brought back five stylish ‘Petitjean’ electricity poles to help strengthen Burton’s electricity network.

Although they sound like a designer label, ‘Petitjean’s’ are in fact steel poles that have been specially selected by EME for Burton because they can hold up more overhead electricity line than traditional wooden poles.

Contracts Delivery Manager Adrian Cooper said: “The improvement work we’re currently carrying out includes installing a new overhead line from a substation at Willington to Burton upon Trent.

“As part of the work we had to span cable over a fishing lake in Willington and, to cut down on the number of poles and pylons we needed to use on the land near the lake, we decided to go with French steel poles.

“They can take a greater weight of overhead electricity line and are taller than traditional wooden poles. That meant we could span the lake in one go and also, do away with the need to put any pylons up, which would have been the traditional way to solve this.

“The new poles, as well as doing a good job, also take up less room than a pylon and are less intrusive on the environment.

“This is the first time in EME history that we have used ‘Petitjean’ poles to replace pylons and we’re delighted with how well the project has turned out.”

As part of the scheme, 47 new poles have been installed, with five of them coming from France. The work began in November and is due to be completed at the end of the month.

The poles were brought from France as no UK company made them to the specification that was needed.

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For more information and pictures contact:
Rebecca Middleton on 024 7642 5779