Electricity North West has brought in a helicopter to help identify damage as its engineers battle horrendous conditions to restore power to thousands of its customers across Cumbria.
Heavy snow has caused widespread disruption across the county and yesterday evening, a major incident was declared by police.
Cumbria’s power network has been severely impacted with more than 35 separate damages to the network reported.
Several consecutive spans of overhead line have been brought down which all need repairing before power can be fully restored.
While engineers have been able to restore power to many properties by reconfiguring the network remotely, some customers will be off for longer until engineers can reach affected sites and carry out physical repairs.
Power has now been restored to around 7,500 properties and teams of engineers are working as quickly and as safely as possible to the remaining 1,500 properties. Access continues to be a major issue and even specialist 4×4 vehicles cannot reach all sites, with equipment for repairs being carried on foot in some locations.
Access issues are a major problem, Electricity North West said, with many roads impassable and only specialist 4×4 vehicles can currently be used.
Stephanie Trubshaw, Electricity North West’s customer director, said: “These are without a doubt some of the worst conditions we have seen in terms of snow for several years.
“The damage to the network is significant and, in some cases, we’ve found several consecutive spans of overhead line damaged.
“Teams have worked tirelessly, battling the horrendous conditions and we’ve been able to restore power to around 7,500 properties.
“Driving conditions are still posing major problems and we’re also unearthing more damage as teams recce sites throughout the South Lakes area.
“We will continue to work around the clock to ensure power is restored and we recognise the difficulties customers will have.
“I want to stress that our teams will work around the clock to ensure power is restored. If you need to report a power cut or need additional support, please call us on 105 and if you need urgent help in a life-threating situation call 999.”
Electricity North West is drafting in engineers from across the North West whilst also calling on its contractors to assist with the restoration as well as carrying out recces to assess and identify network damage.
More staff from other areas of the business are also being drafted in to contact customers and the firm has also sourced a helicopter which will help identify damage.
The power network operator is also working with Cumbria’s Local Resilience Forum and while people are urged not to travel, for those who need to attend community support centres can visit:
- Ambleside – Ambleside Parish Centre, Vicarage Road
- Windermere – Langstone House, Broad Street, Windermere
- Grizebeck – Grizebeck Community Hall
- Coniston – Coniston Sports and Social Centre
- Nr and Far Sawry, Braithwaite Hall
- Bowness – Lake District Boat Club, Glebe Road, Bowness
- Troutbeck – Sun Inn, Troutbeck
- Staveley – Staveley Village Hall
- Hawkshead – Esthwaite Primary School, Main Street, Hawkshead
Stephanie added; “We’re regularly reviewing our restoration times and due to the severity and the amount of damage, many of these have now been set for tomorrow evening. But we are still working and will continue to restore people through the night as repair work is complete.
“We’re doing this so people have time to make alternative arrangements and these will be constantly reviewed once we have more information and details from site.”
Power cuts
Areas affected are:
- Strickland Ketel – 42 properties
- Skelwith – 118 properties
- Over Staveley – 195 properties
- Cartmel Fell – 153 properties
- Torver – 70 properties
- Colton, South Lakeland, 280 properties
- Pennington – 240 properties
- Windermere 174 properties
- Staveley – 27 properties
- Egton with Newland, South Lakeland – 72 properties
- Askam and Ireleth – 155 properties
- Kendal – 16 properties
- Lowick, South Lakeland – 129 properties
- Broughton West, South Lakeland – 70 properties
