Hawker Cove views enhanced as electricity poles removed

A CORNISH beauty spot is set to be enhanced after works were undertaken by an electricity distribution company.

Visitors to a North Cornwall beauty spot will be able to enjoy improved views after overhead power lines were removed by National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED).

Engineers have taken down more than a mile of poles and lines at Hawkers Cove, near Padstow, which have been replaced by underground cables.

The cove is a popular destination known for its coastal scenery and views across the Camel Estuary, and NGED worked with Cornwall National Landscape, Cornwall Council, local landowners and a tenant farmer to identify which overhead equipment could be removed.

This resulted in more than a dozen poles and 15 spans of high and low voltage conductors covering 1,600 metres being taken down.

The project is part of an NGED programme to improve protected landscapes in the South West and to reduce the visual impact of electricity infrastructure.

NGED works in partnership with representatives from National Parks and National Landscapes, formerly Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, to help identify and prioritise potential schemes

NGED Estates Specialist Clare Eddy said: "This scheme demonstrates how we can continue to deliver a safe and resilient electricity network while helping to conserve and enhance some of the South West's most valued landscapes. We're delighted to have achieved a result that will be enjoyed for many years to come."

Cornwall National Landscape's Coralie Barrow said: "Under-grounding the electricity network at Hawkers Cove has transformed the way this landscape is experienced. The removal of poles and overhead wires reduces visual intrusion, allowing the spectacular coastal scenery to take centre stage.

"It's a fantastic example of how practical infrastructure improvements can deliver lasting benefits for protected landscapes and the communities that cherish them."