Oldham substation to benefit from community makeover

Oldham's Henshaw Street electrical substation has been chosen for a complete makeover as part of a larger transformative project.

Electricity North West has selected seven substations in the region to benefit from the Transforming our Spaces campaign.

The campaign invites power network operators to identify areas of land around their local substations which have suffered from vandalism, flytipping, habitat destruction or lack of funding to undertake community projects.

Work on the substation is set to start in the coming weeks and newly planted flowers are expected to blossom by mid-summer. Bird feeders, herbs and bug hotels are also going to be added.

Head of the campaign for Electricity North West, Ryan Wilson, said: “I’m delighted Transforming our Spaces is making a return this year.

“Unfortunately, we had to postpone all projects in 2020 because of the pandemic, that was a real shame as the reaction we had from the public in 2019 was outstanding.

“However, we’ve still been busy planning, and we’re determined to make this year’s campaign bigger and better.”

The role of substations in the community is an important one, they take high voltage power from cables and transform it into a lower voltage which can be used safely in homes. Their purpose sees them found in residential areas and so more exposed to damage and other acts of vandalism.

Mr Wilson added: “We know substations aren’t always aesthetically pleasing but they are critical parts of the power network.

“Our teams keep the sites on a regular maintenance program which involves weeding and cleaning so that they don’t become eyesores, but this project takes things one step further.

“This year, some projects will involve the local community and we cannot wait to get started.”

Other electrical substations that have been chosen for the project are in Thornthwaite, Workington, Blackburn, Astley, Salford and Fleetwood.

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