Left in the dark by electricity works

A Welshpool businessman says he has been left in the dark by plans to carry out electricity supply works today (Friday), which were then cancelled at the last minute.

 

Lee Bocking says his demand for an explanation has fallen on deaf ears after receiving a letter that Enterprise would be working on behalf of Scottish Power in an area that includes his business, the Raven Inn.

 

The letter informed him that electricity would be cut, forcing him to shut from 9am-4.30pm today (Friday) which is traditionally one of his busiest days of the week.

 

“To say I am not happy is an understatement and my biggest concern is that the letter also says there is no guarantee it will be back on at 4.30pm neither,” he said. “Fridays represent a busy time during the day for me. I do dozens of meals and have a good trade with workers that come in for a few drinks during the afternoon and early evening so who is going to compensate me for that?”

 

In preparation, Mr Bocking had emptied his freezers and given his staff a day off but, in a frustrating twist, he received a knock on the door at 9am to say that due to a problem in the town, the work would not now go ahead and his electricity would stay on.

 

“I have contacted the company but they have not been helpful at all,” he added. “I can’t believe they can do this. It is probably too late to save a lot of the trade today as I had to turn away bookings for meals that have gone to other pubs. Now I am guessing they will have to do the work on another day which will mean another disruption.”

 

The Contractor said in the letter about the works that they would "do our best to reconnect the supply as early as possible”.