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Hinkley Connection Project COVID-19 update

Hinkley Connection Project COVID-19 update

As an owner and operator of critical national infrastructure, we at National Grid know that millions of people are relying on us, now more than ever, to keep the lights on and the gas flowing. We have engineers working hard to ensure energy can be supplied safely and efficiently to hospitals, schools, businesses and homes across the country.

Many roles across our business have been designated as ‘key worker’ roles by the government and, at a time when everyone is being asked to stay at home wherever possible, some of our people are out there working to ensure our NHS can care for the sick, businesses and schools can continue to operate, and that people can work from home in these unusual circumstances.

The Hinkley Connection Project is a critical national infrastructure project. These are works that have been given Government approval to continue to ensure the future running of the network.

Following robust risk assessments and a comprehensive review of our programme of works, we are now, together with our contractors, continuing to progress with the critical elements of the project, in line with current Government guidance on construction activity.

Work on the project has been significantly reduced and we have introduced stringent site operating procedures to safeguard the remaining workforce, their colleagues, their families and the UK population.  We have, for example, restricted travel between our sites and removed skin contact entry systems, such as fingerprint scanners. To meet social distancing requirements, we are installing additional handwashing facilities and welfare cabins.

Work in your area over the coming weeks in your area will include reduced construction activity at Shurton substation and surveys where we need to realign the existing pylons to connect into the new substation.

We take our responsibilities to our employees and the communities in which we are working very seriously.  In this challenging and fast-moving situation, we are endeavouring to keep local communities informed via our project website and parish councils. If you have any questions about the works or would like further information on the safety measures we are taking, please contact the project team via 0800 377 7347 or by email at hinkleyconnection@nationalgrid.co.uk.