FAQs

The route chosen is the most direct and therefore the most economical route. As a Statutory Undertaker, SSEN has the right to install/maintain their plant and equipment within the Public Highway under the Highways Act of 1980. There are no rights to install/maintain plant and equipment within private property without the consent of the landowners.

In areas where space for cables is limited, especially in urban areas, underground laying of cables is an efficient way of maintaining the energy needs of a community. Electricity is transmitted from one point to another, using cables laid in an underground system, instead of the cables hanging from poles and towers. Underground cables are not visible to the naked eye.

The method is called trenching and involves a trench digging in the public highway and laying new pipework (ducts) that will accommodate the cables. The trenches will be dug in stages by our contractor, with the traffic management measures in place moving sequentially with our working area.

Once the ducting is in place, we return to open trenches at intervals along the route to pull cable through the ducts and connect them in what is called a joint bay. Once completed, we thoroughly test everything and then is it ready to be energised.

Our working hours are Monday to Friday 7am-5pm. We may require weekend working, and if so, our working hours will be Saturday 8am-5pm, and Sunday 9am-4pm. Working hours are dependent on the weather and conditions.  

Please note, our operatives will arrive earlier on site, however this will be for non-noisy work and to attend the daily safety briefing. We will finish any noisy work at 4:30pm, but you may see us cleaning up 30 minutes after.   

Where our works affect bus stops, these stops will be closed, and we will request that a temporary stop be located within a short walk of the original location.

Yes. 

There are currently no plans to close or divert footpaths along the route. We will maintain safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists throughout our works.

Residents, blue light services and the council’s waste collection service can all still use the road, they just need to adhere to any traffic management or road closures in the section of the road where the team is working.

Full diversion route surveys have been carried out and have been agreed with Wiltshire Council. These will be in place where necessary during our works.

Please contact Amy Welbourn for further information and to discuss specific accommodations in relation to our works: amy.welbourn@aureos.com.