Thousands lack power in big chill

Mar 23 2013

Thousands of homes will remain without power at least until Sunday as suppliers struggle to reconnect supplies brought down by heavy snow and high winds.

The isle of Arran and parts of the south-west mainland of Scotland were particularly badly hit by power cuts on Friday. Power companies are working with councils to send generators to affected areas while engineers have been working to clear routes and restore energy.

A spokesman for Scottish Hydro said engineers are working to get people back on the grid but some areas are shut off by road closures.

He said: "We are still faced with very difficult access problems in Arran and the Kintyre peninsula.

"During the course of this morning (Saturday) we have discovered severe ice loading damage to many of our lines in Kintyre and on Arran. Two steel towers have collapsed under the weight of ice on the conductors near Crossaig in Kintyre. We have over 200 people in the field and they are repairing lines that they can gain access to.

"We are making good progress in areas north and west of Kintyre, and have restored a number of communities already. However, given the scale of the damage found there will be isolated communities that won't be restored to power tonight (Saturday)."

Around 5,000 customers in Kintyre will remain without power as generators being transported to the peninsula are stuck at Kennacraig and at least 1,500 homes in the north and west of Arran will also not be reconnected.

Whiting Bay Hall and Auchrannie Spa and Country House, in Brodick on Arran, are open for residents with power, heat and refreshments, North Ayrshire Council advised. Lamlash fire station is also open all day with power available through a local generator.

Driving conditions were also widely affected by snow and high winds, mainly in the south-west and north-east. Some drivers on the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway spent Friday night in their cars and were given support by emergency services and the local mountain rescue volunteers, transport minister Keith Brown said.

He added: "Every effort is being made collectively by our road operating companies, local authorities and other partners to clear the main routes. I'd like to pay tribute to the efforts of all involved. From council employees working flat out to support the vulnerable and those in rest centres through the dedicated staff in all our emergency services and utility companies who worked through the night we've seen a joined up and committed response.