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Unannounced Outage Plunges Surrey Pub into Darkness
22 May
Summary
- Pub owner forced to close business due to unexpected power cut.
- Staff lost wages and food was discarded following the disruption.
- UK Power Networks apologised for failure to provide advance notice.
A pub owner in Sutton Green, Surrey, was compelled to close his establishment and dismiss staff due to an unexpected power outage. Nigel Farnfield, proprietor of The Olive Tree, stated that this closure occurred during a difficult economic climate and compounded issues from prior waterworks disruptions.
This outage led to staff losing wages and a significant amount of food being discarded, directly impacting the business's livelihood. UK Power Networks admitted that an administrative error prevented them from notifying the pub owner in advance of the planned power cut, which violated rules requiring at least 48 hours' notice. The company has since apologised and offered compensation for the inconvenience.
Farnfield also highlighted previous trade disruptions caused by Affinity Water's road closures. He criticized the inadequate signage during these works, which failed to clearly indicate the business remained open. The pub owner expressed frustration with utility companies' perceived lack of consideration, emphasizing the challenges independent businesses face when effectively shut down with minimal communication.
