Power chiefs in current affairs talks
SCOTTISHPower bosses will meet with householders in the Ettrick Valley on Tuesday (7.30pm) to discuss their winter without electricity.
Representatives from the Glasgow-based energy giant are likely to hear complaints from 14 homes in the Cacrabank to Redfordgreen Spur area, who suffered 14 power cuts in just over a month.
Apart from three houses which will remain on the mains supply, homes were connected to generators on Monday, ahead of a month of work in the West Buccleuch Forest. Trees from the wooded area have continually fallen onto adjacent overhead cables, causing the power black-outs.
Selkirkshire councillor Vicky Davidson said: “I have arranged with ScottishPower for them to come to a meeting in the Boston Hall to discuss the recent spate of power cuts.
“Anyone living on the Redfordgreen Spur should now have their generators connected, but I am aware that further up the valley has also suffered a series of power cuts as well which may or may not be related.
“This will be a chance to hear first hand how this situation arose, what is being done about it, what compensation may be available and perhaps discuss how the situation can hopefully be avoided in future.”
Councillor Davidson expects ScottishPower’s Lothian and Borders manager Mark Everett to attend, alongside team leader Brian Bell and customer liaison officer Johan Gillespie. And a representative from West Buccleuch Forest has also been invited to take part in the discussions.
South of Scotland MSP Jim Hume will not be there, but earlier this month he brought up the complaints of residents with ScottishPower chief executive Neil Clitheroe.
He said: “The small community in this part of the Ettrick has undergone a distressing Christmas and New Year period.
“I acknowledge that ScottishPower has had to deal with thousands of homes without power, but these Ettrick power cuts are not just the result of bad weather; the company has known for months that the large spruce trees were the problem at this location and it has a statutory obligation to ensure they’re removed to allow the line to operate safely and efficiently. In addition, these houses aren’t connected to the mains gas so as well as days of no light, heat or hot water, there’s also no way of cooking or preparing hot drinks.
“Leaving people to struggle on without a back-up supply or any other kind of assistance is unacceptable.”
A ScottishPower spokesperson added: “We recently carried out tree-clearing work to minimise further supply issues and have a programme of work in place for the remainder of the tree-clearing work. The work commenced on Monday and is scheduled to take approximately four weeks to complete. Due to the extent of to the works, ScottishPower will provide generators for affected customers.
“This work should remove the main cause of the faults in this area.
“We understand that power interruptions are frustrating, and we apologise for the inconvenience experienced by customers.”
Any residents with faults can still contact 0845 272 7999.
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Weather for Selkirk
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 36 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: South west
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