Work to start on electricity T-pylons at nature reserve

WORK to install electricity pylons at a much-loved nature reserve in North Somerset is to begin this month.

Energy giant National Grid is to start construction work on its section of a new power line through Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve in Portishead.

Work started on the new 37-mile power line between Bridgwater and Avonmouth in 2019. To protect wintering birds and other wildlife, the work within the reserve will take place between August and September.

This month will see the construction of the foundations for the two T-pylons which will be situated in the reserve. Vegetation will also be cleared to maintain the site.

Measures will be put in place to protect wildlife ahead of the wires between the pylons being installed next year. The work will also involve the installation of underground cables.

Scaffolding will go up for the work to connect the new cables to the substation. The work will continue into September when the new T pylons will arrive and be constructed using a crane. The four 132,000-volt pylons to the east of the substation will be removed.

The reserve spans 150 acres on the edge of the Severn Estuary between Portishead and Royal Portbury Dock.

The reserve was conceived in 2008 to offset the impact of building 2,500 new houses in Portishead.

The power line is being developed as part of the Hinkley C project. Much of the line will go overground using T-pylons, despite campaigners calling for an underground or sub-sea route to be used. A stretch of the line will though go underground in an Area of Natural Outstanding Beauty on The Mendips.

National Grid project manager Aden Precious said: “Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve is a well-visited and muchloved nature reserve. Our activities started here in April 2020 and we strive to keep any disruption to visitors to a minimum. We also have a range of measures in place to protect the rich variety of wildlife and the wetland habitat in the reserve.”