Farmers losing lambs during cold weather power blackouts

Remote communities in Farndale in the North York Moors National Park have been plunged into chaos after power lines were brought down by the snow and ice which hit the region at the start of the month.

While Northern Powergrid provided generators to the affected homes, residents have endured repeated electricity blackouts after the machinery has proved unreliable.

The company has already confirmed that customers who were without electricity for more than 24 hours will be sent letters detailing compensation arrangements.

But farmers who are reliant on electricity for heat lamps to warm newborn lambs amid the unseasonally cold weather have been left counting the cost of the power cuts.

Farndale East Parish Council’s clerk, Dave Mead, revealed that some farmers have lost up to 50 lambs in the latest blow for the struggling industry.

Mr Mead, 48, moved to Oak House Farm in Farndale with his wife, Pip, 46, after he decided on a career change from his job as an insurance broker in London 16 years ago.

The couple have a flock of about 40 sheep which produce about 60 lambs each year.

Mr Mead said: “We have been lucky, but other farmers have been hit very hard.

“The weather has been completely different to last year when we were out in T-shirts as it was so warm.

“A reliable source of electricity is vital at this time of year, especially when the weather has been so cold.

“There is a feeling that we haven’t been kept informed about what is happening and when the electricity will be back on.

“There are downsides to living up here in such a remote place, but these are mostly outweighed by the huge positives.

“I did speak to a manager from Northern Powergrid, and told him the one thing we don’t want to feel is forgotten. However, that really does seem to have been the case.”

Mr Mead told the Yorkshire Post that generators were delivered to homes in Farndale which had been left without electricity on Good Friday, and residents have since had to contend with regular power cuts.

Engineers from Northern Powergrid, which delivers electricity to 3.8m customers across Yorkshire, the North-East and Lincolnshire, worked through the weekend to restore supplies to affected homes.

A company spokeswoman claimed that eight properties had been affected, although Mr Mead maintained the actual number was almost double Northern Powergrid’s figure.

The spokeswoman added that engineers had been deployed to replace eight wooden poles which carry overhead lines as well as repairing damaged conductors. It is hoped electricity supplies will be restored by today.

The Northern Powergrid spokeswoman said: “We would like to reassure those customers affected that we are working as quickly as possible to repair the damaged overhead lines and apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

Snowstorms which battered the north of England on April 3 left about 40,000 people without electricity as icy weather and winds approaching 70mph caused overhead power cables to break. Whitby and the North York Moors were among the worst-affected areas, with more than 12,000 homes and businesses enduring power cuts.

The majority had powered reinstated within days, although the problems have persisted in Farndale due to its remote location.

paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk