Electricity firm accused of jeopardising business park

Richmondshire District Council gave the go-ahead to an extension at Brunt Acres industrial estate, in Hawes, last year, and was hoping it would be doing business just after Christmas.

But, although the administration already has two clients interested in land, neither has been able to move in as there is no power supply available.

There are now fears that if the electricity companies are not jolted into action soon, all deals could be off, putting the future of the estate in question.

The council has already sent a letter of complaint to Conservative leader and Richmond MP, William Hague. The district's economic development officer, Geoff Herbert, said: "We cannot test the pumping station until we have electricity.

"Northern Electric has known about this for 18 months and we have had to pay full connection charges in advance.

"We have got to the stage where the site is ready and we have had offers but we cannot get on.'' Ward councillor and council leader, John Blackie, said: "It is little short of sharp practice to demand money in advance to put in the power, especially when the job has not been done.

"Work should have been done before Christmas and here we are in February and there is still no power to the site.''

However, a spokeswoman for NEDL, which has operated the power network in the region since the industry was reorganised last year, said unforeseen problems had led to the delay.

She said: "Cable-laying started in November and was completed before Christmas.

"However, in the meantime, we identified that a builder had put up a property directly under the incoming 11,000 volt overhead line into the Hawes North sub-station.

"That was to be used for the inter-connection to the business park, and our plans had to be revised because we had to move that line.''

She insisted the parish council and the district authority had been kept informed.

The company is now anticipating the work will be complete by next month.