RELIEVED as the Wales Office is to have narrowly survived within the prime minister's new Department of Constitutional Affairs, its ministers and staff are now on a mission to remind us that it's business as usual.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales Don Touhig was on hand to unveil Western Power Distribution's refurbished operations centre in Cwmbran.

Nestling anonymously in the bosom of the Ty Coch Industrial Estate, the Western Power building accommodates around 100 employees.

They look after around 180,000 consumers across three Gwent regions and parts of Powys.

The building's old-fashioned office structure has been ditched in favour of an open-plan environment.

This was done to ensure that the geographical teams avoid getting their wires crossed.

At the same time, Ty Coch has been boosted by the concentration of the company's plant maintenance activities at the site following a relocation from Bristol.

Around £150,000 has been spent on the various upgrades.

Western Power chief executive Robert Symons said: "When we acquired the business we promised to improve customer service. Reliability has improved by 30 per cent."

"In addition, our concentration of resources at this site and the creation of a call centre in Cardiff has demonstrated the value we place on our South-East Wales workforce."

Mr Touhig was impressed with the firm's commitment to service, skills and staff.

He said: "When General Dynamics was considering coming to my constituency (Islwyn) the company's advisers told them not to bother as they would never find the skill base. "Well, they came anyway, and have never looked back.

"Western Power seems to be enjoying the same experience and I congratulate the company on its investment in the workers of South-East Wales.

"Ultimately they are more important than any building or infrastructure." Mr Touhig was taken on a tour of the site, which included a stop-off at a small corner of special scientific interest.

What was once just a dry hole in the ground remains a home to a rare breed of newt. Which rare breed is still a mystery to Mr Touhig, as his hosts were more confident on electricity than natural history.

Nevertheless, they've done well by their newts, having created a large ornamental pond, complete with lilies for their entertainment.

PICTURED: Don Touhig (left) finds out about the business from East Wales distribution manager Gareth Thomas