Latest news with #NorthernPowergrid
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Residents' frustration at '1970s-style' power cuts
Northern Powergrid says its engineers have fixed a fault in Northern Lincolnshire, as some residents claim the frequent outages reminded them of 1970s-style power cuts. People living in the Isle of Axholme have told the BBC that the outages, which had been going on since December, often lasted for hours and heavily disrupted their lives. Gary Cawkwell, who lives in the village of Althorpe, described the situation as "ridiculous", adding that it left residents needing to "get the candles out". A Northern Powergrid spokesperson blamed the problem on overgrown trees. "Engineers were mobilised to investigate, repairs have taken place, and we can confirm this is now complete," they added. In April, a foodbank in Haxey said it was "deeply frustrated" after power cuts ruined their stocks of chilled food. People living in the area said their lives had become a nightmare and, at some points in the last month, thousands of people saw their supplies cut off on a daily basis. Maggie Wootten, who has lived in West Butterwick for 34 years, said she had resorted to keeping camping lanterns around her house. She added: "They've been happening regularly since Christmas and often in the middle of the night. The last two months have been the worst. "We're paying a lot of money for something but we're not getting the service. They (Northern Powergrid) say they have fixed it but I'm just waiting for the next cut." Some residents said they had been offered a £30 payment from Northern Powergrid for the inconvenience caused. Christine Kennedy said she had "lost count" of how many power cuts her household had experienced and was sceptical about the cause of the problems. She added: "We've been told birds and vegetation are to blame but that's difficult to believe. Are they really different here compared to anywhere else?" Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Foodbank throws away supplies because of power cut Northern Powergrid
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Residents' frustration at '1970s-style' power cuts
Northern Powergrid says its engineers have fixed a fault in Northern Lincolnshire, as some residents claim the frequent outages reminded them of 1970s-style power cuts. People living in the Isle of Axholme have told the BBC that the outages, which had been going on since December, often lasted for hours and heavily disrupted their lives. Gary Cawkwell, who lives in the village of Althorpe, described the situation as "ridiculous", adding that it left residents needing to "get the candles out". A Northern Powergrid spokesperson blamed the problem on overgrown trees. "Engineers were mobilised to investigate, repairs have taken place, and we can confirm this is now complete," they added. In April, a foodbank in Haxey said it was "deeply frustrated" after power cuts ruined their stocks of chilled food. People living in the area said their lives had become a nightmare and, at some points in the last month, thousands of people saw their supplies cut off on a daily basis. Maggie Wootten, who has lived in West Butterwick for 34 years, said she had resorted to keeping camping lanterns around her house. She added: "They've been happening regularly since Christmas and often in the middle of the night. The last two months have been the worst. "We're paying a lot of money for something but we're not getting the service. They (Northern Powergrid) say they have fixed it but I'm just waiting for the next cut." Some residents said they had been offered a £30 payment from Northern Powergrid for the inconvenience caused. Christine Kennedy said she had "lost count" of how many power cuts her household had experienced and was sceptical about the cause of the problems. She added: "We've been told birds and vegetation are to blame but that's difficult to believe. Are they really different here compared to anywhere else?" Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Foodbank throws away supplies because of power cut Northern Powergrid
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Northern Powergrid fixes Isle of Axholme electrical fault
Northern Powergrid says its engineers have fixed a fault in Northern Lincolnshire, as some residents claim the frequent outages reminded them of 1970s-style power living in the Isle of Axholme have told the BBC that the outages, which had been going on since December, often lasted for hours and heavily disrupted their Cawkwell, who lives in the village of Althorpe, described the situation as "ridiculous", adding that it left residents needing to "get the candles out".A Northern Powergrid spokesperson blamed the problem on overgrown trees. "Engineers were mobilised to investigate, repairs have taken place, and we can confirm this is now complete," they added. In April, a foodbank in Haxey said it was "deeply frustrated" after power cuts ruined their stocks of chilled living in the area said their lives had become a nightmare and, at some points in the last month, thousands of people saw their supplies cut off on a daily Wootten, who has lived in West Butterwick for 34 years, said she had resorted to keeping camping lanterns around her added: "They've been happening regularly since Christmas and often in the middle of the night. The last two months have been the worst."We're paying a lot of money for something but we're not getting the service. They (Northern Powergrid) say they have fixed it but I'm just waiting for the next cut."Some residents said they had been offered a £30 payment from Northern Powergrid for the inconvenience Kennedy said she had "lost count" of how many power cuts her household had experienced and was sceptical about the cause of the added: "We've been told birds and vegetation are to blame but that's difficult to believe. Are they really different here compared to anywhere else?" Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Hull schoolchildren create wildlife mural on Preston Road substation
Schoolchildren have created a colourful mural on a substation to help a community connect with permission from Northern Powergrid, it was painted on the walls of the station on Preston Road, city schools were involved in the project, with support from artist Mike mural forms part of Hull's Dynamic Drains - a nature project involving the Environment Agency, Groundwork Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Hull City Council. Children from Archbishop Sentamu School, Woodlands Primary School and The Hut Youth Centre (Child Dynamix) worked on the Rowe, from Child Dynamix, said: "It's been incredible to have that youth voice and watch the design unfold."Mike was brilliant at letting them go free rein with the spray cans."Project manager Dan Jagucki, from the Environment Agency, said: "Bringing together a local artist with local children – supported by Northern Powergrid – and transforming an old building into a new striking mural has really helped to bring the project to life for the community."This partnership work has already created new green spaces to enjoy and is encouraging people to connect with nature in what is a largely urban environment." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Thirsk Bird of Prey Centre owner's fears over electricity work
Work to replace electricity supply poles near a bird of prey centre could disrupt nesting birds during breeding season, its owner has Powergrid said it intended to replace two poles close to Thirsk Bird of Prey Centre in North Yorkshire next week, with the work expected to take several Badgery, who owns the centre, said as well as fearing that electricity engineers could disturb the birds at a vital time of year, he was also having to pay to hire a generator so the site could remain open.A spokesperson for Northern Powergrid said: "We have liaised with the customer to reassure that no works will take place directly over the aviary and provided appropriate advice." 'Cause distress' Mr Badgery explained: "The cables actually run over the top of our breeding pens, and bear in mind it's spring and it's the breeding season, so we've got breeding birds down there."One pair are Egyptian vultures, which are critically endangered, and there are only a few pairs within the UK as it is."So, our concern is that the wires would be dropped down onto the cages, as they've been done before, which can cause some distress."The centre also needed a generator to supply power to the tills, the cafe and the computer system, he said, but while he had asked Northern Powergrid to supply one, the company said it was his responsibility to pay for one. Mr Badgery said his concerns over the electricity work came at a time when bird flu restrictions were already affecting the business, meaning only certain birds could be used in the centre's falconry displays. "We've had to restrict ourselves to two displays a day, because the the current legislation is that if we lose sight of a bird for one minute, then we have to put them into two weeks' quarantine, which just isn't feasible. "We're only flying the birds we know we can keep within the boundaries of the arena or that we know are going to be tracked with the GPS so we know exactly where they are."The sight of people working nearby in hi-vis kit could also unsettle the birds, Mr Badgery said, though he added that the centre would still be open to visitors as normal. "We have asked the engineers if this work could be rescheduled after breeding season, however our request has been denied," he said. 'Appropriate advice' In a statement, a Northern Powergrid spokesperson said: "As part of our yearly maintenance and replacement of electricity poles, we have identified a need to carry out pole replacements next to the Thirsk Bird of Prey Centre."To safely perform this work, a power outage is planned between 9am and 2pm on 23 May and we estimate the works will be completed the same day. "We have liaised with the customer to reassure that no works will take place directly over the aviary and provided appropriate advice."The firm had "a statutory right to, on occasion, disconnect supplies to carry out work on our network", they added."Under these circumstances, Northern Powergrid is not obliged to provide business customers with generators."The spokesperson said the firm took its responsibilities "seriously" and worked hard "to deliver excellent service to all our customers"."However, whether planned or unplanned, power cuts do happen, and it is not possible to always guarantee a continuous electricity supply." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
