Much progress has been made on the ground over the last month. As you will know, the first trunk line (route OH2) to be installed will be from the nearest live network which is in northern Lupton to the electronics cabinet which will be placed at Old Hutton Public Hall. At the time of writing this update (15th March), the contractor, Tony Swidenbank, has installed the trunk duct over the fell from High Fell House in Lupton to Barkin House in Preston Patrick and then beside the B6254 to Crosslands Tarn in Old Hutton and has bored under the lane at Crosslands. Also, one farmer has laid 2Km of duct so far across his own fields. Their work has been preceded by many days of work by volunteers to lay 55mm diameter duct under walls, hedges and streams and to place chambers in the ground in order to speed up their work. Volunteers have been working five or six days each week and have prepared the route (PP6, on the eastern side of the M6) southwards from Barkin House to West View in Preston Patrick. In the parish of Old Hutton and Holmescales, preparation of route OH1 (on the western side of the M6) has also been completed southwards from St.John’s to the border with Preston Patrick at Fall Beck. It has also been completed westwards (route OH3) to the border with New Hutton at St.Sunday’s Beck. Most of these last two routes are across meadows and it has been important to prepare them early as the farmers want to lay the trunk duct themselves before their grass grows too long. Much work has still to be done to prepare for the contractor’s next period of work with us but the priority in the coming few weeks will be to help farmers lay duct across their own land. Without the help of volunteers this project would be impossible and we thank them for their hard work. Work continues from Monday to Friday as well as at weekends so volunteers are always needed even if it is for half a day. (If you cannot help with manual work, tea/coffee and biscuits are always welcome!) Please help if you can. If you are not receiving the daily emails about where to meet and the tasks to be done, please contact Martyn Welch.
The tasks of discussing and signing wayleaves have had to take second place to the work in the field but further progress has been made in New Hutton. Investments have continued to come in. The total now stands at £342,450. The number of expressions of interest has risen to 388 which is 80.8% of all premises in the three parishes. In New Hutton the percentage is an amazing 87.6%. At the end of February, B4SW was invited to apply for the remaining £980 in a Cumbria County Council Community Fund. The money would have been lost if it had not been allocated by the 28th February. £980 has now been officially granted and we thank CCC for it. It has gone towards the purchase of a micro-digger which will be used free of charge by hamlets throughout the three parishes to help them lay service ducts to houses. A micro-digger has been bought.
If you have any questions please do contact us.
The tasks of discussing and signing wayleaves have had to take second place to the work in the field but further progress has been made in New Hutton. Investments have continued to come in. The total now stands at £342,450. The number of expressions of interest has risen to 388 which is 80.8% of all premises in the three parishes. In New Hutton the percentage is an amazing 87.6%. At the end of February, B4SW was invited to apply for the remaining £980 in a Cumbria County Council Community Fund. The money would have been lost if it had not been allocated by the 28th February. £980 has now been officially granted and we thank CCC for it. It has gone towards the purchase of a micro-digger which will be used free of charge by hamlets throughout the three parishes to help them lay service ducts to houses. A micro-digger has been bought.
If you have any questions please do contact us.
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