Trowbridge town centre businesses angered by power cut plan

Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks has warned up to ten businesses that it needs to switch off their power from 8am to 5pm on Tuesday, July 9 to connect a new property to its network.

That new property is understood to be Trowbridge Town Hall, which is undergoing a £8.15 million refurbishment and redevelopment programme.

It will affect around ten businesses in Silver Street including the DW Money, Finneys Hair salon, Cre8 World, the Gift Box shop, Old Joanna, the Children’s Hospice South West charity shop and Leykers coffee bar.

Dave Stallard of Old Joanna is angry at having to close for a day due to the power cut plan. Image: Trevor Porter 77114-9 (Image: Trevor Porter)

For most, it means they will have to shut up shop for the day as they will have no electricity to power lights and equipment, including fridges, freezers and tills.

The businesses won’t receive any compensation and have asked why can’t the work be done on a Sunday when they would normally be closed.

Dave Wyatt, owner of the DW Money shop, said: “I am annoyed about the fact that I can’t open.

“So not only do we lose our income for the day we have also got to pay out people’s wages when they are not here.”

Kerry-Anne Hall, owner of Finneys Hair, said: “It’s annoying. I have just had to rearrange appointments for ten clients who had booked to come in that day.”

Kerry-Anne Hall of Finneys Hair says she has been forced to reschedule appointments for up to ten clients because of the proposed power cut in July. Image: Trevor Porter 70025-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Some businesses, such as Coffee #1, Leykers, and the Antep + Pizza takeaway will be forced to move chilled and frozen foods from displays and freezers that will be cut off for the day.

Tracy Parker, owner of Leykers coffee bar in White Hart Yard, said: “We are going to have to shut for the day. We won’t be able to do anything.

“I’m also going to have to make provision for a lot of my frozen things and chilled things.

“The power cut I can understand but if they knew it was happening and going to affect so many of us then I think part of that money should have been set aside to compensate the businesses that are losing out.”

Jessica, at print and embroidery shop Cre8 World, said: “It is going to affect us massively if it goes wrong.

“We are frustrated because it could be done on a weekend on a Sunday when a lot of the traders are not operating.

“Businesses are going to lose money and there’s a lot of people that rely on our service. A lot of people want to collect their stuff.

“We are not going to be able to open if we haven’t got any electrics and we’re going to have to come in and monitor the machines at some point once the electricity is turned back on because our machines will dry up.”

Musa Sirin fears his frozen food at Antep + Pizza could be wasted due to the proposed power cut. Image: Trevor Porter 77114-10 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The network operator sent a letter to business owners and managers in the area near the Town Hall saying they were planning the power cut.

A SSEN spokesperson said: “Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is working closely with Wiltshire Council to enable the power supply required to run Trowbridge Town Hall when it fully reopens following extensive refurbishment.

“As the building will rely on a renewable source of energy to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact, the existing power supply is being upgraded to accommodate these needs, and the completion of this upgrade will require a short period of time when a Planned Supply Interruption (PSI) will take place to enable engineers to work safely and make the final connection to the network.

“With all PSIs, those affected are notified at least one month ahead of the event to enable them to seek an alternative power source and SSEN works considerately with all involved parties to ensure minimum impact, with any vulnerable customers being offered additional, free help for the duration of the outage.”

Cllr Tamara Reay, Wiltshire Council's Cabinet Member for Assets, said: “We have been in contact with SSEN and will proceed with the new cabling works to Trowbridge Town Hall within the existing road closure from 1 to 5 July.

"These works will not cause any power outages to businesses. In the meantime, we are working with SSEN to see if we can deliver the switchover to the existing substation on a weekend evening to minimise disruption to businesses.

"The substation will be altered as part of the supply with new switches being installed and a shutdown is required to complete this work.

"Once the arrangements for this are confirmed, SSEN will update local businesses. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience these works may cause."