Chaos as Villages Hit By Blackout

Dec. 17, 2003
By Christy Tuer
 
Villages in Mid Wales were thrown into chaos this morning after a major power cut plunged homes and businesses into darkness.

Hundreds of residents and workers in Bettws Cedewain and Tregynon, between Newtown and Welshpool, were struggling to carry on as normal today after the electricity supply went down in the area at about 8.10am.

Post offices, village stores and petrol stations were among those hit by the blackout.

Staff at Tregynon Post Office said they were open for business but were only able to handle purchases for cash as their tills and lights were all down.

Mary Smith, of the post office, said customers were even being handed torches as they entered the store to help them find their way about.

She said the power cut had affected the entire village along with neighbouring villages such as Bettws Cedewain.

Mrs Smith added that she had been in touch with Scottish Power who were hoping the electricity would be back on by lunchtime.

"We understand it's supposed to be back on by lunchtime, it's something quite major apparently," she said.

"It went off about 8.10am and has affected both Tregynon and Bettws.

"We have got no till, no post office, no nothing. We have got torches people are going round the shop with.

"Of course, everything is automated these days so we cannot use the post office at all."

David Hockly at Tregynon Garage said the power cut had come at a busy time and had left the garage unable to do anything.

"It must have affected hundreds of houses and we are not managing with the garage at all," he said.

"We are here but there's no petrol, no shop, no nothing. We have got a lot of work to do but can't do any MoTs or anything."

Brenda Collingwood, who lives in Bettws Cedewain, confirmed the power cut had wiped out the entire village, which she estimated included between 60 and 70 houses.

"The whole village is off and has been off since 8.10am," she said.

Residents were told that the power supply was likely to be off until lunchtime today but no one at Scottish Power was available for comment.

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/publish/article_9824.shtml