This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2013/mar/19/yorkshire-lakedistrict
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| National parks get extra funds to bury power lines | National parks get extra funds to bury power lines |
| (8 days later) | |
| You may not feel that the landscape of the north could be improved, at least in our five national parks, but you would be wrong. | You may not feel that the landscape of the north could be improved, at least in our five national parks, but you would be wrong. |
| Overhead power lines still add an incongruous straggle to parts of these beautiful areas, and there is something that we – you – can do about that. | Overhead power lines still add an incongruous straggle to parts of these beautiful areas, and there is something that we – you – can do about that. |
| We normally hear about the doings of the electricity industry regulator Ofgem when it comes to the price of power and such, but it has other, more cheerful duties. One is to budget funding for the burial of power lines in scenic areas, and to ask the general public for suggestions about where such work might best be done. | We normally hear about the doings of the electricity industry regulator Ofgem when it comes to the price of power and such, but it has other, more cheerful duties. One is to budget funding for the burial of power lines in scenic areas, and to ask the general public for suggestions about where such work might best be done. |
| More money has now been set aside for this, encouragingly at a time of recession which public works can do something to relieve. Ofgem is currently sorting out how to much to allocate to each of the parks, and a show of local – and visitor – interest in possible projects would help our five. | More money has now been set aside for this, encouragingly at a time of recession which public works can do something to relieve. Ofgem is currently sorting out how to much to allocate to each of the parks, and a show of local – and visitor – interest in possible projects would help our five. |
| Thomas Harland, planning policy officer for the Yorkshire Dales national park authority, says: | Thomas Harland, planning policy officer for the Yorkshire Dales national park authority, says: |
| We haven't received confirmation of our final allocation from Ofgem yet, but I think we can confidently estimate it to be about £3 million. | We haven't received confirmation of our final allocation from Ofgem yet, but I think we can confidently estimate it to be about £3 million. |
| It takes a long time to plan an undergrounding scheme. This is because it's hard to find a line that doesn't create some challenges – whether due to cost, disruption to local communities, wildlife, archaeology, or for technical and logistical reasons. This means we need to start working with the power suppliers to plan the next set of schemes as soon as possible – so we'd like to hear suggestions for lines that should be targeted. | It takes a long time to plan an undergrounding scheme. This is because it's hard to find a line that doesn't create some challenges – whether due to cost, disruption to local communities, wildlife, archaeology, or for technical and logistical reasons. This means we need to start working with the power suppliers to plan the next set of schemes as soon as possible – so we'd like to hear suggestions for lines that should be targeted. |
| We can't make any promises because it is common for any combination of the above challenges to undermine scheme feasibility. However, once we've got some ideas, we'll sit down with the electricity companies and see which ones they can take forward. | We can't make any promises because it is common for any combination of the above challenges to undermine scheme feasibility. However, once we've got some ideas, we'll sit down with the electricity companies and see which ones they can take forward. |
| To give you an example, the Dales national park and power companies are currently on with a £1,800,000 'undergrounding' programme which includes lines between Dent Station and Cowgill and from Grimwith to Stump Cross, home of the famous caverns (which have a discreet and very necessary wiring system of their own). Interesting by-products include an archaeological bonanza at Malham Moor, where Electricity North West unearthed so many prehistoric flints that work was put on hold while Bradford University experts and students examined the finds. | To give you an example, the Dales national park and power companies are currently on with a £1,800,000 'undergrounding' programme which includes lines between Dent Station and Cowgill and from Grimwith to Stump Cross, home of the famous caverns (which have a discreet and very necessary wiring system of their own). Interesting by-products include an archaeological bonanza at Malham Moor, where Electricity North West unearthed so many prehistoric flints that work was put on hold while Bradford University experts and students examined the finds. |
| That particular scheme has seen 2.2km (1.4 miles) of cable buried safely and 23 electricity poles removed. It's not that the structures don't have any appeal; there's a lovely, very early pencil sketch by David Hockney at Salt's Mill which shows them to good effect on the outskirts of Bradford when he was a teenager. But in the wild country, they jarr. | That particular scheme has seen 2.2km (1.4 miles) of cable buried safely and 23 electricity poles removed. It's not that the structures don't have any appeal; there's a lovely, very early pencil sketch by David Hockney at Salt's Mill which shows them to good effect on the outskirts of Bradford when he was a teenager. But in the wild country, they jarr. |
| Other lines being dealt with are in Upper Wharfedale from Deepdale to Beckermonds and on Swarth Moor in Ribblesdale. The Dales' champion for sustainable development – noble title - Ann Brooks says: | Other lines being dealt with are in Upper Wharfedale from Deepdale to Beckermonds and on Swarth Moor in Ribblesdale. The Dales' champion for sustainable development – noble title - Ann Brooks says: |
| This is a very welcome initiative which, hopefully, will allow yet more undergrounding of electricity supplies within this National Park. I would commend Ofgem for their very positive contribution in helping to conserve the beautiful landscape that we all value and enjoy. | This is a very welcome initiative which, hopefully, will allow yet more undergrounding of electricity supplies within this National Park. I would commend Ofgem for their very positive contribution in helping to conserve the beautiful landscape that we all value and enjoy. |
| What to do: contact Thomas on 01969 652378 or email him at thomas.harland@yorkshiredales.org.uk. | What to do: contact Thomas on 01969 652378 or email him at thomas.harland@yorkshiredales.org.uk. |
| Meanwhile here is a picture of an overhead power line challenge in the Scottish Highlands. Maybe most scenic to leave it where it is. | Meanwhile here is a picture of an overhead power line challenge in the Scottish Highlands. Maybe most scenic to leave it where it is. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |