Town Centre Blackout Hits High Street Giants
A widespread power outage plunged a busy town centre into darkness on Saturday evening (22 June). Major retailers, including Wetherspoons, McDonald’s, and KFC, were hit hard, with shops along Terminus Road forced to close early as traffic signals went down in one of the town’s busiest spots.
Engineers Race Against Time
UK Power Networks sprang into action shortly after 8:00pm, sending engineers to a local substation suspected of causing the blackout. An early update at 8:27pm explained:
“As any issues on our network have affected equipment at the substation, engineers will start testing there. They’ll check the entire area’s network equipment to pinpoint the fault.”
However, a later statement at 8:55pm hinted at a more complex problem. Stuart from UK Power Networks said:
“We think there may be a deeper issue. Sometimes, heat from a developing fault temporarily seals damaged cables, making it tricky to find the exact problem.”
The company warned full cable repairs might be needed, possibly involving excavation, traffic management, and extended repair times.
Power Restoration Expected Late Night
Power is estimated to be back between 1am and 2am on Sunday. But if underground faults are found, engineers are prepared for overnight work. Locals face a long wait before lights come back on.
Chaos on the High Street and Roads
- Big name outlets like Wetherspoons and KFC closed early due to the blackout.
- Traffic signals went dark, sparking safety fears for drivers and pedestrians alike.
- Residents reported flickering power all evening via social media, adding to the frustration.
UK Power Networks urged customers to keep their devices charged and have torches handy, warning that outages could repeat overnight.
Stay Informed
Follow @UKPowerNetworks on social media or visit their official website for live updates and advice during the ongoing power crisis.
