Roy Winwood outside his home in Newland, where the live cable was unearthed. Picture by Martin Humby. 13346602
A BUILDER from Malvern is warning homeowners that there could be live electricity cables just a few inches under the ground in their gardens.
Roy Winwood of Stocks Lane, Newland, near Malvern, discovered a cable bringing electricity to his home just six inches below the surface when a sub-contractor excavated part of his garden in preparation to build an extension.
They contacted Central Networks, which is responsible for the cables and distributing electricity in the Midlands and staff were sent out to examine and repair the cable.
The work went on late into the night but the next morning Mr Winwood found the cable had been left in exactly the same position. It had not been buried deeper as he had expected.
Mr Winwood said: "They should have buried it properly. It should have been covered. They never came back to me about the situation with the cable in the garden.
"It is a serious health and safety issue. My wife is a keen gardener and she could have gone straight through the cable."
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Mr Winwood believes the cable was laid about 11 years ago. His land is flat and there has not been any erosion of the ground.
Mr Winwood is concerned that live cables could be lying near the surface of the ground at other properties in the area.
A spokesman for Central Networks said: "The recommended depth for underground cables to people's homes is 18 inches.
"All of our new and replacement cables are laid at 18inches, but the depth should never be assumed."
He added that over the years ground levels can change and anyone thinking of doing excavations at their property should check where the cables lie.
He said: "If they find they are less than the recommended depth, we will re-lay them. In most cases the cable will be in a direct line from the meter box on a property to the middle of the road outside."
The spokesman said cables are wrapped in a tape that sets hard but if anyone comes into contact with a damaged 230 volt cable they could get quite a serious shock.
He said: "It is something people should be aware of but nothing to be worried about."
He said Mr Winwood should have contacted Central Net-works after the initial call-out to request they returned to lay the cable deeper.
For help and advice about working where there may be underground cables call Central Networks' CableSafe Team on 0800 0150927 or 0800 0963080.
To find the location of underground cables call Central Networks Bureau Services on 024 76 186502.
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