Power cut problems regularly hit area
AN AREA near Southport is suffering from power cuts on a semi-regular basis.
Banks, just north of Southport, has been plagued with blackouts almost every week since the turn of the year, with people taking to social media to voice their concerns regularly.
The West Lancashire town’s residents feel aggrieved with the energy price rises, with one person saying that they can’t keep the power on.
Since the turn of the year, there has been a number of posts shared in a local Facebook community group sharing their concerns about the power cuts in the village.
One person posted in the group on January 19: “Power cut. Tarleton and surrounding areas. 1850 properties without power. The estimated power return is supposed to be 10 to 11pm.”
With almost 2,000 homes said to be affected, the majority of Banks seemed to be without power. Since then, people have claimed that their homes have suffered a loss of energy a number of times since.
One woman claimed that she lost electricity for the third time in the space of a week on February 7.
This trend continues throughout the group. Another person posted on February 7: “Anyone else lost power? I’m on new lane pace and it’s just gone down.”
One person replied to the post claiming it was the fourth time this year.
A spokesperson for Electricity North West said: “These types of faults are frustrating for everyone as they result in multiple short power cuts but the exact location of the fault on the underground cable cannot easily be identified.
“After investigations were completed, a full repair is now being carried out and is expected to be finished in the coming days.
“Separately, in an unrelated incident last month, birds flew into the overhead power lines and caused a power cut which affected 1,548 properties across Tarleton and Banks. Using our remote switching systems, engineers restored power to the majority within 20 minutes and the remaining few properties were restored shortly after.
“If anyone needs any more information during a power cut, they can follow Electricity North West on Twitter or Facebook for updates, or call us free on 105.”
A HELICOPTER shook houses and startled people across the region.
People were left guessing after a helicopter landed on Meols Cop field in Southport after flying low across homes in the town.
Flightradar24 showed the Coastguard helicopter fly over Southport, onto Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Bolton Hospital and back across Merseyside as it circled Anfield and Goodison Park in the process.
The helicopter then continued over the River Mersey and parts of Birkenhead before flying towards the Irish Sea.
People speculated on Facebook as to why the helicopter apparently landed in Meols Cop field and flew off abruptly.
One person wrote in a local Facebook group: “Who heard that helicopter just now. Thought [it] was on my roof near cemetery rd.”
People quickly commented, with one person confirming it made a landing: “It was on Meols Cop field.”
The same person then added: “[It] just seemed to land and take off again maybe pilot training”
Another person speculated that the helicopter was taking someone to hospital.
They wrote: “Came from a rig, probably taking someone to hospital.”
Following the speculation, an HM Coastguard spokesperson said: “The coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon is training in the area this afternoon.”