"Power cut chaos must not happen again"

5.09.59pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 15th Jan 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has argued that lessons must be learnt from last week's power cuts, which left 80,000 homes and businesses across Wales without electricity.

Brecon and Radnorshire was particularly badly affected by last week's severe weather, with many finding themselves without power, landline or mobile phone services, television or radio. Many constituents were also left without water, as their supply comes from electrically-operated boreholes.

Ms Williams said: "Now that power has been restored and the clean up is more or less over, it is time to see what lessons can be learnt. It seems to me that there must be ways, in the 21st century, to protect our energy and communication networks from the perils of falling trees and other storm-related incidents. I will be writing to Western Power, to try and establish why so many people were so badly affected last week, and what steps can be taken to try and ensure less dramatic ramifications of future bad weather."

Paul Ashton, Welsh Liberal Democrat councillor for St Mary's Ward in Brecon, said: "I would like to commend the hard work and dedication of the staff of Western Power, and the other companies and contractors involved, who were out there in very difficult conditions, trying to get the problems resolved as soon as possible. I just hope that it is not found to be the case that their work could have been eased by better planning and anticipation of such weather. I was also very concerned about the impact of the blackout on the vulnerable in our communities, and I will be asking Powys County Council what measures it has taken to ensure the best support for, and communication with, these groups if such events occur in the future."