National Grid invests in Stanah and Hambleton communities as it completes overhead line refurbishment

As part of its commitment to leave a positive legacy in the communities hosting essential infrastructure, National Grid has encouraged applications to its Community Grant Programme from community groups and charities in Stanah and Hambleton.

The fund is available for projects that deliver social, economic, or environmental benefits – such as promoting inclusion, education, health and wellbeing, employability, conservation, and energy efficiency.

This year, National Grid has awarded the following community organisations with grants to improve their facilities:

• £10,000 to Over Wyre United Reformed Church to install eight solar panels and a battery to reduce the church’s energy consumption and running costs. These panels will cover the two south-facing roofs of the church and hall.
   
• £7,425 to Hambleton Tennis Club to supply and install eight LED floodlights for the two existing courts. The modernisation will increase the club’s opening hours, enable it to host competitions, and improve community accessibility.
   
• £3,300 to Hambleton Bowling Club to enable year-round usage of the green by installing new energy-efficient LED bulbs in their four existing floodlights. This will enable the club to offer a wider range of events to make it a space that the whole community can use and enjoy.

The investment follows National Grid’s refurbishment of 20km of overhead electricity line between Hambleton Moss Side and Stanah which concluded earlier this month. The work involved installing new conductors and replacing insulators, fixtures and fittings to help ensure continued safe and reliable electricity supplies in the region.

Where vegetation, hedges and gates were removed to ensure safe access to the overhead line and pylons along the route, these will be replaced under the guidance of an independent ecologist.

This refurbishment project forms part of National Grid’s multibillion-pound annual investment in maintaining and upgrading its electricity transmission network across England and Wales, and will help support Britain’s clean energy transition.

James Heywood, Project Engineer at National Grid, said:

"We’re proud to have completed this important work to futureproof electricity supplies for homes and businesses in the area, and are grateful to the residents of Hambleton Moss Side and Stanah for their patience and support throughout.

“Through our Community Grant Programme, we’re delighted to leave a legacy that will deliver lasting social, economic and environmental value. This includes supporting local projects to create spaces and opportunities the whole community can enjoy.”

A spokesperson from Over Wyre United Reformed Church said:

"We are very grateful for the grant we have received from the National Grid Community Grant Programme. It has allowed us to purchase 26 solar panels, which should have a huge impact on our annual gas and electric bill of over £3,000.

We have a very active Church Hall space, which is well used by a wide range of local community groups. The installation of solar panels will make us more energy efficient and more economically sustainable as a community hub in Hambleton for the next 25 years.”

For further information about the project, please contact National Grid’s Community Relations team on 0800 073 1047 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm) or by emailing [email protected].