Beauty spot power lines come down

Engineers are installing underground cables in place of the overhead lines

A £250,000 project is under way to remove 1.7 miles (2.7km) of overhead power lines from the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The work at Loseley Park, near Guildford, is being managed by EDF Energy Networks with the aid of a grant from industry regulator, Ofgem.

EDF protected areas project officer, Nigel Collier, said the project would have "a positive impact" on the area.

Engineers are installing underground cables in place of the overhead lines.

"The removal of the lines will not only improve the overall visual amenity of Loseley Park, but should also enhance the wildlife habitat in this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty," Mr Collier said.

Specialist machinery

Sections of the overhead electricity network, together with 38 wooden support poles, are being removed at Loseley Park.

Specialist machinery is being used to install the replacement underground cables to minimise disturbance to the landscape.

Once the underground network is in place, engineers will remove the overhead power lines that currently run alongside the access drives to Loseley Park; the main entrance; the western and southern edges of the showground; the North Downs Way and North Downs scarp.

A further section of overhead cable is due to be removed from The Warren Nature Area.

Rob Fairbanks, Surrey Hills AONB director, said: "The Surrey Hills Board and EDF Energy Networks are committed to the restoration of this highly valued historic parkland landscape and we are pleased that after a great deal of work behind the scenes the poles will be coming down."