21 June 2004 00:00 Central Networks’ £15million boost to Nottingham's electricity network

Multi-million pound work to improve Nottingham’s electricity supply has reached an important milestone as building work on a new substation in Queens Drive gets underway.

The new substation will replace the current one and will be a third of the size of the original, meaning it will have less visual impact. It will also house some of the very latest technology in the electricity industry.

Projects Group Manager, Michael Dunne, said: “Central Networks is committed to investing in the network and providing our customers with a first class service.

“The work in Nottingham will improve the supply and help reduce the visual impact of our network in the area.

Work to improve supplies for Nottingham’s 500,000 customers is part of a four year improvement programme for the city which aims to improve security of supply for residents both for now and for the future.

Central Networks has already laid 4.5 km of cable through the village of Attenborough, including the nature reserve which is site of scientific interest.

The cable route through the reserve followed the existing pathways and, in addition to the carrying out the work, Central Networks was able to make much needed improvements to the pathways and also to improve disabled access to the reserve.

“We’ve worked very closely with a number of local agencies, such as Attenborough Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency to ensure our plans are sensitive to their needs, “ said Michael.

As part of the investment programme Central Networks is also dismantling overhead line and 19 pylons in the Chillwell area, and will instead supply local people through the new underground cable.

Michael said: “We still have a long way to go, but everything is on schedule and going well. Once the work is complete, an already first class network for Nottingham will become even better.”

Ends
Notes to editors:
•Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.8 million customers across the East and West Midlands through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables – enough to go round the Earth almost four times – and via almost 97,000 substations;
•Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information and pictures contact:
Rebecca Middleton on 024 7642 5779
Out of hours, call 024 7642 4000 and ask for the duty press officer