Power is cut off as temperatures plummet

A SADDLEWORTH residential home and 240 properties were left without electricity yesterday because of tree pruning work being carried out by United Utilities.

With temperatures struggling to get above freezing, the electricity was cut off near Delph crossroads, Saddleworth, from 8.30am to 4pm.

It was the third time householders in the area have been hit by a power shutdown.

Valerie Campbell, manager at Stoneswood Residential Home, Oldham Road, Delph, said they were concerned when they received notice from United Utilities explaining the planned shut-off.

She added: “The elderly cannot cope without electricity and we were fuming about it, but we were supplied with an electricity generator so we were only without power for about five minutes.”

Some 16 cottages and farms at Top o’ th’ Meadows, Waterhead, were left without heat for about seven hours in January when United Utilities contracters moved in to cut back trees. Further pruning work was scheduled for another tiny community at Bunkers in Greenfield, but the project, opposed by furious residents, was cancelled at the last minute.

But United Utilities says it has to carry out essential pruning work because trees are too high.

A spokesperson said: “Tree pruning is essential work. It prevents fallen branches from interfering with electricity lines, which can cause power loss. We have to keep on top of this work all year round.

“We gave customers plenty of advanced notice about the planned shut-off. Stoneswood Residential Home was provided with an electricity generator.

“We have deployed extra staff for these tree pruning jobs during the cold spell, to try to minimise the length of time that customers are without power.

“We have carried work out in other parts of Saddleworth before and because of the extra staff we have been able to get residents back on power by lunch time.”