Residents anger at planned power cut change

Tuesday, 5 March 2024 00:00

Residents in Winterbourne Stoke are angry about a planned power cut later this month.

Households in Winterbourne Stoke received a letter informing them of a planned power outage by Scottish and Southern Electric Networks for March 21st.

In the initial letter received on March 2nd, the planned outage was expected between 9 am and 5 pm.

However, two days later, residents received a second letter stating that the power outage is expected between 7:30 pm and 3 am in the early hours of March 22nd.

Image: Scottish & Southern Electricity Network

Although both times would cause inconvenience, there is a feeling among some residents, that a day time outage would be preferable and safer.

Ian West, a resident, told Salisbury Radio, "As there appears to be a choice, it would be far preferable to be without electricity during the day rather than at night, bearing in mind health and safety issues.

"On reflection, I hope the electricity company stick to their original planned time."

A spokesperson for Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks said, "Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) can confirm that the Planned Supply Interruption (PSI) for Winterbourne Stoke will take place on Thursday 21 March from 7:30pm to 3:30am.

“The PSI is to enable SSEN to carry out the replacement of an overhead conductor crossing the A303, which will also require temporary traffic management.

"An amendment by the local authority to the permit for this traffic management meant the original PSI had to be replanned, with cancellation letters sent out to all affected customers.

“SSEN apologises for any confusion this cancellation and subsequent replanning may have caused and thanks customers for their patience while engineers safely carry out this improvement to the local network.”