27 August 2008 09:30 Central Networks opens Mediterranean garden for Redditch pensioners
A taste of the Mediterranean has come to a group of Redditch pensioners, thanks to a £2,500 grant from power company Central Networks.
The 20 elderly residents of Keats House were joined by Ward councillor Carole Gandy and Phil Wilson, Customer Operations Manager at Central Networks, on Wednesday 20th August for the official opening of the Med-themed garden.
The improvements were made possible with a donation from the power distribution company's Safer Environment Fund.
The residents of the council-run sheltered accommodation were consulted on what they wanted for their new garden, and the improvements requested by the residents included block paving, removing overgrown shrubs and planting new flowers and grasses.
"We want to do more than just provide an electricity supply to our customers," said Phil, "and the Safer Environment Fund is one example of our commitment to improve the areas where we operate.
"We're delighted that we were able to help out the residents in this way so that they can enjoy and use their outside space much more, particularly during the warmer months.
"This project carries on the work we have been doing following the issues we had last year. We aim to give excellent customer service and I hope this goes some way to giving something back after the problems we faced in the area."
Central Networks owns and operates the substation in the Headless Cross area which suffered two fires last year.
Ward councillor Carole Gandy welcomed the generous donation which she said had allowed the residents of Keats House to be involved with the planning of the garden, which has been designed to be easily maintained.
Gavin Boyes, Landscape and Countryside Officer with Redditch Borough Council, said of the project: "The garden now has a lovely Mediterranean feel.
"We went to residents with initial ideas and they were involved with developing these, by choosing the materials and planting schemes that they liked and that would be easy for them to look after."
Ends
Notes to editors:
- Central Networks brings power to 4.9 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables 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 more information contact:
Andrew Barrow on 02476 183 677
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