A SKIP lorry ploughed into phone lines and power cables damaging a cottage wall and leaving two homes without electricity or their telephones for days.
Energy suppliers ScottishPower and communications company BT have restored the homes’ supply, one of which was owned by a vulnerable 89-year-old.
Chris Davies, 57, of Gable End Cottage, Church Street, Kelsall, said: “I was checking my emails on Saturday morning, when I heard this almighty bang. A skip lorry had come through the village and ripped the power cables and telephone lines down.
“It’s dome some damage in the corner of my house, bricks are hanging loose. It was a hit and run, the driver didn’t bother stopping, and by the time I got outside the truck had gone.
“I am an unemployed photographer and I don’t have any household insurance. This could cost hundreds, perhaps thousands.
“My next door neighbour is an 89-year-old woman, she is not well at all and has a panic alarm system which wasn’t working.
“The post that the cables come from is not high enough. I have been told that if you have an obstruction below 16ft, like this post, then it should be signposted on the road to stop things like this happening.”
Both homes were resupplied on Wednesday but more work could be needed on the post.
ScottishPower spokewoman Jean Holmes said: “We are looking into this incident. We have contacted Mr Davies and we have set a supply up to the properties. There are reports that the lorry had its boom up.”
BT spokesperson Emma Tennant said: “We are arranging for the two overhead cables to be replaced and reconnected to a different pole nearby.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused, and are undertaking the necessary repairs as soon as we can.”
