Update on 18 months-long £1 million electricity cable work in Scarborough

The programme, which started on August 24 and runs until the end of 2021, focuses on replacing 7km of high voltage underground electricity cables dating back to the 1960s with a more modern and sustainable alternative. This new cabling is capable of meeting any future increase in the demand for power as the town develops, the population grows and more people swap their cars for electric vehicles.

The work, which is being carried out by O’Connor Utilities and Murphy Utilities on Northern Powergrid’s behalf, involves excavating in the roadway in a number of locations to the south side of the town centre.

The route includes sections of Salisbury Street, Seamer Road, Oak Road, Falsgrave Road, Mount Park Road, Cambridge Place, Valley Road, Londesborough Road, All Saints Road, Westover Road, Belgrave Terrace, Westwood, Westbourne Grove, Princess Royal Terrace, Princess Royal Park, Fulford Road and Filey Road.

To reduce disruption and the overall duration of the programme for the community, two teams are being mobilised to deliver the programme.

Work has already started on Cambridge Place and Salisbury Street, with the following sections of work scheduled to take place during September and early October 2020:

Ongoing until Friday 11 September 2020 – along Cambridge Place to the junction of Mount Park Road.

Ongoing until to Friday 11 September 2020 – Salisbury Street to the junction of Seamer Road.

Monday 14 September to Friday 25 September – Mount Park Road from the junction of Cambridge Place to Falsgrave Road.

Monday 14 September to Friday 25 September 2020 – from the junction of Seamer Road/Salisbury Street to the traffic lights at the junction of Valley Road.

Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2020 – from the junction of Falsgrave Road/Mount Park Road to the traffic lights at the junction of Seamer Road.

Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2020 – Seamer Road from the traffic lights at the junction of Falsgrave Road the junction of Springhill Road.

All dates may be subject to change. Details of work taking place from mid October to mid December will be announced shortly.

All of this work will be carried out using multi-way traffic lights. There are no plans to turn off anyone’s power and it is unlikely that access to premises will be required. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and Northern Powergrid will ensure that any businesses affected can make arrangements to continue to receive their deliveries.

Northern Powergrid is committed to keeping local people informed and will be writing to anyone directly impacted immediately before work starts along each section of the route.

Mike Hammond, Northern Powergrid’s General Manager for the North Yorkshire region, said: “Whilst this is vital investment to secure the reliability and resilience of Scarborough’s power network, we know our work can be disruptive. That’s why we’re working outside of the main tourism period. We’re also using two teams to reduce the amount of time we spend on the town’s roads.

“We have an active communications programme so, if you’re on the route of the work, expect a letter from us around two weeks before the work starts along your street. We’re also issuing updates through the media and social media as well as on a dedicated Scarborough page on our website - northernpowergrid/scarborough.”

“Our letters will also provide details of our free Priority Services Register, which offers extra support to customers who may be more vulnerable.”

“While we progress with our work in Scarborough, we’ll be following the latest Government advice to keep our employees, contractors and customers safe and our work will be carried out in line with the latest COVID-19 health and safety guidance. With this in mind, we’re asking customers not to approach our teams if they see them working unless it’s an electricity emergency – and, if they do, to always maintain social distancing.”

People can find out more about Northern Powergrid’s investment work by northernpowergrid.com/scarborough or contacting the company’s customer care team by calling 0800 011 3332. The network operator is also available 24/7 on Facebook and Twitter.