Northern Powergrid, the company responsible for the electricity network that powers everyday life for 8 million people across 3.9 million homes and businesses in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, is starting a £250,000 investment programme to improve the reliability and resilience of the electricity network in Staithes.
Starting on Monday 17 April 2023, the work focuses on replacing several sections of existing high voltage underground electricity cables dating back to the 1970s with more modern and sustainable equipment. The new equipment is capable of meeting the existing demand for power, as well as any future increase in demand as the population grows and people become more reliant on electricity to power their businesses, heat their homes and charge electric vehicles.
The work is being carried out by O’Connor Utilities on Northern Powergrid’s behalf and will involve excavating in the roadway and/or footpath to install new electricity cables along a 650m route including sections of Staithes Lane, The Old Stubble, Beckside, High Street and adjoining footpaths. There will be three separate phases of work taking place as follows:
Phase 1 – Staithes Lane/The Old Stubble and adjoining footpaths – from Monday 17 April until Tuesday 16 May 2023
Phase 2 – Beckside and adjoining footpaths – dates to be confirmed.
Phase 3 – Beckside/High Street to Staithes Gallery – dates to be confirmed.
Northern Powergrid is working closely with North Yorkshire County Council to agree the best routes and times for the Phases 2 and 3 of the work to take place.
To minimise disruption, multiple teams will operate to reduce the amount of time spent on each phase and working hours will be restricted to weekdays from 8am until 4pm. Pedestrian access into the village will be maintained as well as vehicle access for residents, businesses and emergency services
Towards the end of each phase of work, the team will switch over each individual property from the old network to the new one and this will require a short power cut. Northern Powergrid will work with each home and business to arrange the best time to do this.
Public Information Meeting
Northern Powergrid is committed to keeping local people informed and will be notifying local councillors and parish councillors, as well as writing to everyone directly affected to let them know the date that work will take place in their immediate vicinity. The company is also holding a public information meeting at Staithes Village Memorial Hall on Cliff Road, Staithes and have invited people to drop in any time from 4pm until 7pm on Thursday 23 March 2023.
Amanda White, Customer Service Manager, Northern Powergrid said: “Although our work in Staithes is absolutely essential in terms of delivering a reliable and resilient electricity supply for the village, we’re always very aware of the potential impact of our work on people’s everyday lives That’s why we’re doing all we can to support and communicate with the local community while we carry out this important investment in the area’s electricity network.
“We’ll be issuing information to all affected customers to explain what we’ll be doing and when. Our communications will also provide details of how to sign up for free to our Priority Services Membership which offers extra support to customers who may be more vulnerable.”
People can also find out more about this work by contacting the company’s customer care team by emailing generalenquiries@northernpowergrid.com or calling 0800 011 3332. The network operator is also available 24/7 on Facebook and Twitter.
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