Residents in Durban Road area still affected by frequent power cuts
ANGRY residents want answers after their homes have been repeatedly left without power and streetlights off for days at a time.
Blackouts in the Durban Road area of Grimsby have been plaguing residents for nearly eight months – and homeowners are tired of demanding action.
-
Power cuts: Residents from Durban Road, Grimsby, are fed up with regular power cuts which are affecting their lives, from left, Janet Binns, David Spark, Judith Spark, Marion Hardy, Jan Tinker, Julia Grant, Alan Grant, Hayden Smith, 10, Alan Bryan and councillor Steve Beasant. Picture: Michelle Adamson
As reported, they told how night-time power cuts were happening about once a month, plunging them into darkness for hours at a time, not only inside their homes but on the street, too.
Now, they say the street lights have been dark for more than a week – despite lodging many complaints with Northern Powergrid. Ward councillors have also complained.
Urgently seeking two / four bedroom properties for our lengthy list of possible suitable tenants with the lowest fees in town and excellent turn around rate for sourcing and managing.
Terms: Terms and Conditions Apply
Contact: 01472 355 553
Valid until: Thursday, June 20 2013
Outraged Marion Hardy, 65, said: "We have had numerous power cuts in my house. The last one went off at 5.45am on April 15.
"I got up at 7.30am, the electric was still off and when I came back home at 4.30pm it still had not come back on. The food in my freezer had started to defrost and we couldn't do anything about it.
"Some people here rely on their electric for health reasons and it is just not on.
"We have not been given a direct apology – only what was printed in the Grimsby Telegraph when the issue was featured."
Judith Spark said: "On April 14, the power went off in the night and didn't come back on until lunchtime.
"The cuts are random and affecting everyone. If the lights are on in one house, they are off in another.
"I am angry that we have had this problem for so long. It is pitch-black on the road outside, which is very dangerous. We are paying the bills but not receiving the service. It sometimes goes off for a minute other times it is for hours."
A spokesman for Northern Powergrid said: "We would like to apologise to our customers for the inconvenience caused by the power cuts they are experiencing in the Durban Road area of Grimsby, the latest of which occurred on April 15.
"The power cut is due to an intermittent fault on a low voltage underground cable.
"Specialist equipment that was fitted to help us locate the fault was activated during the power cut that occurred last week.
"As a result of this, we would like to reassure customers that we are carrying out further investigations to locate the fault so that we are able to make a full and permanent repair as soon as possible."
Marcus Asquith, the head of highways and transport at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "The council are supporting the electricity provider in every way possible to help resolve this problem.
"Unfortunately, there is nothing the council can do directly. It can be a difficult process to identify the exact cause of such power cuts, but engineers are aware of the issue and are trying to resolve it."
Comments
by crazylarry
Thursday, April 26 2012, 4:45PM
“Need to get the World No/1 Repairs Eng on it - known as Red Phase Adair.
Currentle residing in an Oasis”
by Rugrat1973
Thursday, April 26 2012, 1:12PM
“I expect that the local Cannabis production facility is responsible for the repeated black out's and lack of street lighting. I suggest that the Police copter do a survey of the area to see if it can identify any obvious heat sources. The Police could also do a sweep with the sniffer dogs these plants do give quite a distinctive odor when growing in large quantities.”