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14
Mar
Roadworks due as Northern Powergrid begins £5.5m scheme in Harrogate
Northern Powergrid will begin a £5.5m scheme to make the electricity supply in the Harrogate area more reliable next week.
The company, which manages the electricity network for 3.9 million people, has said the upgrade will "improve the resilience and reliability of the vital local electricity network”.
But it will cause disruption to motorists on some of Harrogate's busiest roads, including Ripon Road, Clarence Drive and Jenny Field Drive, where the work will start.
Upgraded cabling will be installed in 22 areas of Harrogate. Work will begin on Monday, March 18 and is due to end in September.
It will require having open excavated trenches in the roads. The trenches will be protected by barriers and some locations will have two-way traffic lights.
Northern Powergrid revealed the plans at a drop-in session on Tuesday night at Harrogate's Crown Hotel, which businesses were invited to attend.
The Stray Ferret, which attended the meeting, was told Northern Powergrid and North Yorkshire Council have been in talks about the work for over a year in consultation with local councillors, Harrogate Business Improvement District and Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce.
Northern Powergrid operates to five-year plans and is currently working to its 2023-2028 plan, which includes upgrading its network. Once its plans are approved by a regulator, the company can receive funding from a fund, which is sourced from a percentage of bill payers' money.
A similar scheme to upgrade York's network, costing £1.5m, is currently underway.
Northern Powergrid five million pound investment route
A spokesperson for Northern Powergrid told the Stray Ferret that the upgrades were essential. They said:
Northern Powergrid said the increasing number of electric vehicles, housing and hospitality venues made it essential to act now.
It added that businesses and houses now required a range of electric outlets and an increasing number of venues including hotels and pubs were changing from gas to electric to meet net zero goals, putting more demand on the power supply.
Steve Crawford, project manager said:
When and Where
Residents will receive letters up to two weeks in advance of work beginning, the company said. The project will start next week on Jenny Field Drive and is due to end at Majestic Court in September.
Full list of Northern Powergrid times and dates for the investment works
The impact
Work is expected to take place from 8am-5pm but Northern Powergrid have purposely avoided the Crescent Road, Ripon Road and King’s Road junction to reduce disruption.
It said access for residents, businesses and emergency vehicles will be maintained disruption would be minimised by, for example, avoiding work near Harrogate Ladies' College during term time. Public transport will continue.
The last major Northern Powergrid work in the area took place almost eight years ago near David Lloyd, where the company's substation is located. It said the David Lloyd to Penny Pot Lane section will take the longest time to upgrade due to there being a single circuit along the route.
Mr Crawford said:
Sharon Incerti, project manager said;
To keep up to date check www.onenetwork.com and contact generalenquiries@northernpowergrid.com for any further information.
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