Electricity North West – the electricity company for NW region – has removed overhead power lines and electricity poles at Pooley Bridge at a cost of over £290,000.

By the time the current programme finishes next year approximately 30 kms of electricity power lines, costing over £4 million, will have been undergrounded in the Lake District National Park alone. 

This Pooley Bridge scheme will remove over 0.7 kilometres of overhead wires from this part of the National Park.

The work is funded by an undergrounding allowance from the regulator Ofgem, forming parting of an 8 year programme.  Lake District National Park Authority has surveyed the electricity lines in the National Park and the most feasible are then submitted to Electricity North West to be incorporated in the undergrounding programme.

Friends of the Lake District Overhead Wires Officer, Amanda McCleery, said:

“These poles and wires were close to a popular riverside footpath from Pooley Bridge, with stunning views south to Ullswater and the Eastern Fells beyond, so it is great to get them removed. Friends of the Lake District appreciates the hard work put into such undergrounding schemes by multiple staff within Electricity North West, from when the site is first surveyed to when the last pole is taken down.”

Alan Lowes, Operations Delivery Manager for Electricity North West, said:

“We’re delighted to be able to enhance the landscape by removing these power lines and poles so everyone can enjoy this part of Cumbria. The power network is vital to ensure our customers across the North West receive a reliable power supply to their homes and businesses, but we do understand that sometimes it can impact the local landscape.  We’re committed to working with the communities in which we operate and we continue to work closely with the Lake District National Park Authority to help further protect this stunning area.”

Tim Duckmanton, on behalf of the Lake District National Park Authority, said:

“We need to balance the natural beauty of the Lake District landscape with essential services such as the power network, ensuring that they don’t detract from what is special about our most sensitive landscapes.  Working closely with Electricity North West to remove these overhead lines is an important part of that process.”

Before removal:

During removal:

After removal: