P L A C E

Present:

Steve Knight-Gregson – NG

Nigel Heally – NG
Paul Macmanus – NG;

designer/operator of NG virtual reality display; architect for the proposed new equipment building at Dunford Bridge and 4 additional members of the NG team

Councillor Pestell representing Dunford Bridge Community;

Bob Bryan – Peak District National Park Authority (NPA)

Anne Robinson  – Friends of the Peak District/ Campaign to Protect Rural England (FPD/CPRE)

Jonathan Adamson; Andrew Darke – PLACE
 

NG had previously circulated papers

NG did not minute this meeting

Notes taken during this meeting: 

We were collected at Pennistone Station at 1.00 p.m. by Steve Knight-Gregson and driven by him to the Dog and Partridge. During the general conversation in the car SK-G said cut and cover (along the Trans-Pennine Trail?) was a possibility.

1. The Vale of York undergrounding uses 12 (400kV) cables.

2. 6 (400kV) cables are presently planned for the 1953 Woodhead Tunnel. Provision has also been made for an additional 3 cables to meet increased demand should they be needed. Demand has increased by 1% per year (6% in London) annually [for. . . ?].

3. An undergrounding corridor of 25 meters is needed for 12 cables with a construction corridor of 50 meters.

4. If a like-for-like ohtl replaced the existing one, in Longdendale, it would have a life of 60 to 80 years ie. at least 20 years longer life than the present pylons owing to improvements in paints/galvanizing.

5. 1 circuit has 3 phases, with a single core per phase. 1 circuit is carried on each side of a pylon. "Each single circuit is capable of carrying the whole power, if need be."

6. Direct buried cables will be in cement bound sand, which dissipates heat. Also, the cables are spaced in order to dissipate heat.

7. It would need 9-12 cables to underground in Longdendale. (With? 2 cores per phase, or "more copper.") NOTE the higher cost of cabling compared to ohtls is caused principally by the cost of copper.

8. The rating in the Regents' Canal400kV double circuit is different. It carries half the power [? of the Longdendale ohtl].

9. Andrew says the upgrading of the Stalybridge sub-station is in NG's literature.

Provision to carry more power - extra cables in the 1953 tunnel. Do the cables themselves carry more power, or are they like for like in capacity? Any like for like ohtl in Longdendale would have a longer life (80 years). It is an upgrade!!!

10. Andrew says, NG say, 9 metres width would do it -, i.e., ‘surface troughing’ along the TPT.

SK-G generously gave us a lift ftom the D&P to Huddersfield. On the way he confirmed something I had meant to ask in the meeting: that it would cost £18 million for a new ohtl between Woodhead and Dunford Bridge (over the high moors), and will cost £50 million to recable through the 1953 Woodhead Tunnel.
NOTE. The underground/ohtl cost ratio is less than 3-1!!