Hinkley Connection Update November 2020

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.