A £290,000 project to remove overhead powerlines and electricity poles at Pooley Bridge has been completed.
Electricity North West is carrying out the work as part of a wider £4 million scheme which will see around 30km of power lines put underground in the Lake District National Park.
This Pooley Bridge scheme removed over 0.7km of overhead wires.
The work was funded by an undergrounding allowance from the regulator Ofgem.
Friends of the Lake District overhead wires officer, Amanda McCleery, said: “These poles and wires were close to a popular riverside footpath from Pooley Bridge, with stunning views south to Ullswater and the Eastern Fells beyond, so it is great to get them removed.
“Friends of the Lake District appreciates the hard work put into such undergrounding schemes by multiple staff within Electricity North West, from when the site is first surveyed to when the last pole is taken down.”
Alan Lowes, operations delivery manager for Electricity North West, said: “We’re delighted to be able to enhance the landscape by removing these power lines and poles so everyone can enjoy this part of Cumbria. The power network is vital to ensure our customers across the North West receive a reliable power supply to their homes and businesses, but we do understand that sometimes it can impact the local landscape.
“We’re committed to working with the communities in which we operate and we continue to work closely with the Lake District National Park Authority to help further protect this stunning area.”
Tim Duckmanton, on behalf of the Lake District National Park Authority, said: “We need to balance the natural beauty of the Lake District landscape with essential services such as the power network, ensuring that they don’t detract from what is special about our most sensitive landscapes. Working closely with Electricity North West to remove these overhead lines is an important part of that process.”
