Express & Star

Power lines to move underground in bid to improve Cannock Chase and Shugborough views

Around 3.5km of overhead power lines are to be moved underground in a bit to improve the view around Cannock Chase.

Published
Shugborough Hall at the National Trust's estate on the edge of Cannock Chase

Power lines from White House to Moors Gorse will be removed and placed underground, with work beginning next Monday and set to take around four months to complete.

Forty eight wooden poles will be removed and three pole-mounted transformers will be rebuilt, clearing the views around Cannock Chase Visitor Centre in Marquis Drive.

There will be some disruption as a result, with temporary traffic lights set to be installed for several weeks, but project bosses said the work had been planned to minimise disruption.

A map showing where the overhead power lines will be removed

Meanwhile overhead lines at Shugborough Estate are also set to be removed as part of a scheme proposed jointly by Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the National Trust.

The work is part of an ongoing £2.3 million initiative by Western Power Distribution (WPD) to enhance protected landscapes.

WPD Wayleave Specialist Donna Bayliss said: “This work is being funded through a regulatory-backed initiative to enhance protected landscapes by removing electrical infrastructure like overhead lines.

"We work closely with representatives from National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to identify suitable sites for consideration.

"This has been really helpful to pinpoint high priority schemes and enable the limited funds to be spent as effectively as possible.”

The overhead line runs alongside Marquis Drive and across Forestry England’s estate towards Sheepwash Farm.

WPD has obtained all the necessary approvals for working in the sensitive area.

Councillor Frances Beatty, chairwoman of the Cannock Chase AONB Partnership, added: “We are delighted to have secured the funding from Western Power Distribution for these improvements to the landscape.

"The work both at White House to Sheepwash Farm and at Shugborough will improve the visual amenity in iconic parts of the AONB, in terms of public benefit, the schemes will also deliver on a large scale as being two of the most visited sites in Cannock Chase.”