Engineers from Electricity North West, UK, the region’s power network operator, removed 750 m of overhead power lines between Mealo House and Heatherbank near Allonby which have been in place for more than 60 years.
The company, which invested £65,000 in the project, has already removed 1.2 km of overhead power lines in the area over the last year, working alongside the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Natural England to replace the power lines with around 800 m of underground cable to improve views.
Martin Deehan, operations director for Electricity North West, said: “We’re delighted to be able remove these power lines from this local beauty spot.
“This project showcases the great results we can achieve by working closely with and investing in the fantastic communities in which we operate.
“We understand that power lines can stand out and we work with AONBs and National Park Authorities to consider schemes that will improve the appearance of these beautiful landscapes even further.”
By removing the overhead lines and placing them underground the power company is also providing the local area with a more reliable and efficient supply of electricity as the new cables will not be susceptible to bad weather and strong winds.
Over the past five years Electricity North West has invested £1.7 million in removing 19 km of overhead power lines identified as being most visually intrusive across the Lake District.
Rose Wolfe, assistant manager for Solway Coast AONB, said: “We’re pleased that even more power lines have been removed from the Solway Coast and it will greatly enhance our beautiful coastline.
“We have been working closely with Electricity North West and the results of our successful partnership will be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike for many years to come.