Last week’s tidal surge has delayed the delivery of National Grid’s house-sized transformer.
National Grid’s project engineer David Omer, said: “Last week the country experienced its most dramatic tidal surge in 60 years and the resulting in heavy seas were too rough for us to safely unload the transformer.

“We completed offloading on Sunday but there wasn’t enough time left to get it to Sellindge, so we decided after discussions with the police, that rescheduling the delivery was the best option.”

The transformer aims to leave the Western Docks at 7.30am on Saturday, December 14, along with outriders from Kent Police.
The energy providers are reminding people of their route and to avoid parking to cause an obstruction to the transformer.

National Grid will be transporting the device via the A20, the B2011, to then travel up the M20, coming off at junction 13 to come off at Ashford.
It will then continue to use the M20 travelling eastwards before leaving at junction 10, heading to the substation in Church Lane, Sellindge.

He added: “We’ve considered a range of factors in planning the re-delivery including police and haulier availability and doing what we can to minimise disruption during what is a busy time on the roads.
“We’d like to thank everyone for their cooperation and remind people to avoid parking on the route and near the substation entrance so we can get the delivery done with as smoothly as possible.”

The transformer will be more than 75 metres long, with a vehicle at either end to propel it.
It will travel at a speed of roughly 12mph.
Mr Omer continued: “As soon as it is operational, the transformer will change the voltage of electricity so it can be transported along local power lines and delivered to homes , businesses and community facilities.”

For more information contact National Grid on: 0800 731 1231.