WORK is under way on a multi-million pound four-year project to improve electricity supplies for the Felixstowe area.

WORK is under way on a multi-million pound four-year project to improve electricity supplies for the Felixstowe area.

Over the past few years - often at peak demand times - the resort has suffered a number of power black-outs with the current network unable to cope and which will be under further strain with the area set to grow.

First phase of the work is costing �7 million and is currently causing disruption in the countryside around the Trimley villages, where huge trenches are being dug to put existing power lines underground and upgrade supply cables.

There has been concern about the impact on wildlife, particularly birds nesting, but organisers of the project say it cannot be done in winter because of ground conditions and the length of the work means disruption is unavoidable.

A spokeswoman for EDF Energy Networks said the company is spending more than �400m this year to improve the network and meet future power needs.

She said: “As part of this, we are carrying out a major project over the next three to four years to improve the long-term reliability of electricity supplies for customers in the Felixstowe area.

“The first phase of this work involves installing new 33,000 volt underground electricity cables from the existing overhead lines in Cordy's Lane to Parker Avenue, Felixstowe.

“Excavation work has been undertaken along Cordy's Lane, between Blofield Track and Keepers Lane, so that the new underground cables can be installed.

“EDF Energy Neworks will do all we can to keep any disruption to a minimum, however, as with any project of this scale some inconvenience is unavoidable and for this we apologise.”

Tim Collins, a partner in Bidwells, which manages the affected land for owners Trinity College, Cambridge, said it had taken two years of preparatory work to sort out the route for the cabling and everyone deserved credit for their hard work.

The first phase is due to be completed next summer.

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