As you’ll be aware, we’re working with Western Power Distribution (WPD) to make changes to their local electricity distribution network and our work at the reserve includes, removing some of the existing pylons, replacing them with underground cables, making changes to Portishead substation and nearby overhead lines, and building a new line of T-pylons from Sandford to Seabank.

Together with our contractor, Murphy, we’re in the final stages of building the cable ducts along the route of the new underground electricity cables between Nailsea and Portishead substation and we’re preparing to install the electricity cables in the coming months.

From April next year, WPD will start work to install new underground cables and remove the pylons in the north of the reserve. In recent months, WPD has been carrying out ecological surveys and putting measures in place to reduce disruption to local wildlife. To stop protected species from entering construction areas, we need to manage the vegetation in each area. From Monday 2 November, we need to remove vegetation along a section of the footpath on Wharf Lane.

To keep everyone safe during this work, a section of the footpath will be closed from 2 to 6 November, between 9.00am and 3.30pm each day. We’re aware this path is well used and we’re working to reopen it as soon as possible.

Attached is a PDF of the information boards we’ve affixed at key locations in the reserve and we’ve updated our project website: https://hinkleyconnection.co.uk/portbury-wharf-nature-reserve/.

We are sorry about the inconvenience caused during this closure – should you receive any queries about this work, please direct them to our community relations team on 0800 377 7347​ or by email hinkleyconnection@nationalgrid.co.uk.

As an owner and operator of critical national infrastructure, we at National Grid know that millions of people are relying on us, now more than ever, to keep the lights on and the gas flowing. We have engineers working hard to ensure energy can be supplied safely and efficiently to hospitals, schools, businesses and homes across the country.

Many roles across our business have been designated as ‘key worker’ roles by the government and, at a time when everyone is being asked to stay at home wherever possible, some of our people are out there working to ensure our NHS can care for the sick, businesses and schools can continue to operate, and that people can work from home in these unusual circumstances.

The Hinkley Connection Project is a critical national infrastructure project. These are works that have been given government approval to continue to ensure the future running of the network.

Following robust risk assessments and a comprehensive review of our programme of works, we are now, together with our contractors, continuing to progress with the critical elements of the project, in line with current Government guidance on construction activity.

We have significantly reduced our workforce and those on site are working under stringent site operating procedures to safeguard the remaining workforce, their colleagues, their families and the UK population.

In relation to the underground cable works between Nailsea and Portishead, this week works have been focused on installation of additional hand washing facilities, deep cleaning of offices, installation of extra welfare cabins and additional parking provision at the compounds, so that guidelines around social distancing can be met.

To meet seasonal working restrictions, we must also restart works in Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve. Activity will continue as per the agreed programme of works, though progress will undoubtedly be slower. This means that next week we’ll be working on the bellmouths on Sheepway and will continue with preparation for the temporary haul road, plus ongoing soil and ecological surveys in preparation for the new overhead lines. Between now and September there will also be trenching and ducting work and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) within the reserve.

We take our responsibilities to our employees and the communities in which we are working very seriously. In this challenging and fast-moving situation, we are endeavouring to keep local communities informed via our project website and parish and town councils.

We are placing additional signage at our sites to inform the public of the continuation of critical works during the COVID-19 outbreak and direct people to contact our community relations helplines if they have any questions or concerns.

If you have any questions about the works or would like further information on the safety measures we are taking, please come back to me.