Sidmouth power cut affects shops and homes

Sidmouth town centre shops and nearby homes suffer power failure

SHOPPING came to a standstill in Sidmouth town centre last Thursday after a power cable was damaged, causing a power cut.

Shops and banks along Fore Street and High Street were affected for up to an hour while Western Power Distribution carried out repairs.

In all 1,142 customers were affected between 1.47pm and 2.41pm until they were re-connected through an alternative supply.

They included 291 people living at Roxborough Flats, and householders in Manor Road. Alma Lane, Bedford Square, The Browns, St Peter’s Court and The Ham were also affected.

A WPD spokeswoman said: “A third party was working in the area. Marquees were being put up and one of the company drove a pin through one of our underground cables.

“The cable damaged fed from one sub-station in the area, that is why all these were affected. It was a high voltage fault.”

She said there had been some “little pockets” of power failures last Thursday and Friday in East Devon, some being weather-related following torrential rain.

Lenny Titherington, manager of Cancer Research UK shop, Fore Street, said: “We had to shut up shop for half-an-hour. I think the whole of our street was affected. Some shops had to close because their tills didn’t work.”

In High Street, 4 Homes assistant Jenny added: “We had to shut, we couldn’t do anything. It was quite dark for a good half hour. A good proportion of the High Street was affected.”