Blackburn: Didsbury Street substation set for makeover

The site on Didsbury Street is one of several throughout the region that has been selected by Electricity North West as part of the company's Transforming our Spaces campaign.

This will entail planting flowers around the site and installing planters which include bird feeders, herbs and bug hotels.

Electricity North West scheme organiser Ryan Wilson said: “I’m delighted Transforming our Spaces is making a return this year.

“Unfortunately, we had to postpone all projects in 2020 because of the pandemic, that was a real shame as the reaction we had from the public in 2019 was outstanding.

“However, we’ve still been busy planning, and we’re determined to make this year’s campaign bigger and better.”

Blackburn's Didsbury Street substation 

Substations take high voltage power from cables and transform it into a lower voltage which can be used safely in homes.

However, as a result, they are mostly found in residential areas and can be subject to graffiti, damage or other acts of vandalism.

The campaign has identified seven such stations across the North West that have been hit particularly hard by vandalism, lack wildlife, or by lack funding to carry out such community projects.

Aside from the Blackburn site, Electricity North West has selected substations in Thornthwaite, Oldham, Workington, Blackburn, Astley, Salford and Fleetwood.

Work is set to start in the next few weeks with the company saying that they expect flowers to blossom by mid-summer.

Mr Wilson said: “We know substations aren’t always aesthetically pleasing but they are critical parts of the power network.

“Our teams keep the sites on a regular maintenance program which involves weeding and cleaning so that they don’t become eyesores, but this project takes things one step further.

“This year, some projects will involve the local community and we cannot wait to get started.”