THE people of Saltash are set to benefit from stronger and more reliable electricity supplies as a £250,000 upgrade scheme gets under way.

National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) is replacing underground cables serving more than 130 homes in Summerfields and Castle View, St Stephens, in a major investment designed to futureproof the local network.

Engineers will begin work on Monday (April 27), with the project expected to continue until mid-July.

The scheme will affect more than 650 metres of footpath, along with short stretches of road as teams work in phases across the area.

NGED says the improvements will help boost reliability for households for decades to come while also increasing capacity for newer technologies such as electric vehicle chargers, solar panels, heat pumps and battery storage.

David Cassidy, project lead, said: “This is an important investment in the area’s electricity network that will improve the reliability of supplies for residents for decades to come.

“We are adding extra capacity to the local network which will make it easier for people to connect electric vehicle chargers, solar panels, heat pumps and battery storage.

The project will be carried out in stages:

From April 27 to May 10, teams will work between 7 Summerfields and 21 Summerfields.

From May 11 to June 8, works move from 52 Summerfields to 1 Summerfields.

From June 1 to June 5, engineers will work from 1 Summerfields towards the junction of Castle View.

From June 8 to June 27, the scheme continues from the Castle View junction towards number 13.

From June 22 to July 3, work moves from 13 Castle View towards 25 Castle View.

From June 29 to July 13, teams will continue from 25 Castle View towards 50 Castle View.

Motorists are also being advised two-way traffic lights will be in place on St Stephen’s Hill from June 1 to 5.