Farndale homes still without power (From Gazette & Herald)

Farndale homes still without power

9:36am Saturday 21st April 2012 in News By Haydn Lewis, haydn.lewis@thepress.co.uk

Many farmers left without electricity during lambing season

SOME residents in Ryedale are still without mains electricity after they were cut off in a storm over a fortnight ago.

Homes in Farndale lost their power during storms on the night of April 3 to 4 and many supplies have since been restored. But about eight farms in Dale End have still not been reconnected – with farmers right in the middle of the lambing season.

One farmer, David Meade of Oak House Farm, said his farm and those of his neighbours had been on generator power since the cut. Despite Northern Power Grid working hard to restore power, a lack of communication meant they did not know when their supply would come back on.

Mr Meade said: “I’m sure they are working hard, but we have all been on generators for more than two weeks and a lot of my neighbours have experienced a lot of disruption.”

Mr Meade said he had not been informed when power would be restored and the disruptions to the supply could not have come at a more difficult time.

A spokesperson for Northern Power Grid said: “We can confirm that work is set to commence on site today. Our engineers will be replacing eight overhead line wood poles and repairing damaged conductors.

“They are aiming to have the work complete on April 23. Following this work, the eight properties currently on generators will be returned to their normal electricity supply.

“We are aware that some customers have suffered an intermittent supply via the generators and engineers were sent to site yesterday to investigate the matter.

“We would like to reassure those customers affected that we are working as quickly as possible to repair the damaged overhead lines and apologise for the inconvenience caused.”