Power loss hits town centre shops

Businesses on Bridge Street, Stratford, lost trade on the busiest day of the week when power was lost or severely limited to 13 properties on Saturday.

Shops affected were on the left-hand side of the street if approaching from Clopton Bridge.

According to a manager at WH Smith the power cut first struck at 3.30am on Saturday, returned briefly at midday and was lost for the rest of the day.

Most of WH Smiths remained closed to the public, although they were selling newspapers and magazines from the Bridge Street entrance. Their cash tills were not operational and lights in the shop were dimmed. They took cash and the smiling staff seemed to be carrying on in a ‘spirit of the Blitz’ manner.

When the Herald visited the area in the afternoon, it appeared as if Jigsaw, Clinton Cards and Thorntons had not opened at all. Boots appeared to be operating as normal, although lighting was dim in the shop.

Workmen were working on underground cables on the junction of Chapel Street and Bridge Street outside Crabtree & Evelyn. They told the Herald that they had isolated the problem, but were still working on fixing it.

Update: According to the Western Power website on Sunday morning, the problem has now been fixed.

Please email news@stratford-herald.com if you have more information.