Otley council thanks power firm for its efforts (From Ilkley Gazette)

Otley council thanks power firm for its efforts

11:33am Friday 1st February 2013 in News

An electricity distribution company has been publicly thanked for the way it has conducted itself in Otley.

Otley Town Council has formally recognised the high standard of work, and public consultation, that has been carried out by Northern Powergrid over the past year.

The firm, which came in for a lot of criticism following a series of disruptive power cuts at the end of 2011, has been carrying out a major £1.2 million network upgrade in the town – with minimum disruption.

Town council leader Councillor John Eveleigh (Lab, Ashfield), addressing the policy and resources committee, said: “I do think this company has tried to engage with the community perhaps far more than we’ve had in the past, both through holding exhibitions to explain what they’re doing.”

Town and ward Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Prince Henry) agreed: “This organisation has done the best public consultation that any utility firm has since I can remember. They got it spot on.”

Councillors also heard that Northern Powergrid could help the council with its plans to install some of the old Otley lampposts, which have been in storage.