SINCE 2005, residents from Holsworthy Vineyards have suffered at least 80 power cuts with up to as many as six or seven in a day.

Two residents of the Vineyards Estate have kept a record of the dates and times of when these power cuts occur and the duration of them.

This year alone, residents have recorded 20 varying power cuts, these have included, from as little as ten second 'blips' to as long as two and a half hours without electricity.

An employee from Western Power had been out and has spoken to one of the residents during 2005 and explained that the ten second power cuts will occur if the computer believes there is a fault in the line.

Mrs Gillian Down, a resident of the Vineyards, said: "The ten second blips have occurred six times in one day and are as infuriating as any other length of power cuts.

"This is because once you have reset everything such as the clocks and other electrical items, you have to do it again, for sometimes up to six times in the day."

For example on April 14 this year, Mrs Down explained: "We had six of these 10 second blips, then again on April 25."

At this stage Mrs Down received a reply, on April 28, from Western Power Distribution to the letter that she had sent regarding the frequent 10 second power cuts. They replied with the reason that there was a hairline fracture in the insulation of the 11 kilovolt line supplying the area.

The company had sent out a helicopter to 'fly the line' however, they could not find the fault.

At the end of the letter they then explained: 'I am pleased to confirm we have found the fault and it has been repaired so hopefully this supply will be more reliable in the future.'

Mrs Down said: "They completely ignored the question that I asked about the ten second power cuts."

Shortly after this reply was sent, on May 20 another four, ten second power cuts occurred and a power cut of 25 minutes. There was also a power cut on July 4 of a duration of two hours 25 minutes, on November 14 there was one ten second power cut and again on November 26.

Mrs Down believes that since the old Holsworthy Hospital made the transition to its new site at Dobles Lane, there have been electricity problems. She explained that they had changed electricity lines and are now, she believes, on the end of the Chilsworthy, Shebbear and Bradworthy line, which could also have something to do with the problem.

For the full report see this week's 'Post'.