Power Problems to Waymills Industrial Estate
15 February 2010
Owen has written to Michael Laverty, Chief Executive of Advantage West Midlands and Neill Carr, Chief Executive of Scottish Power. The text of the letter follows. “In the past 18 months I have had a number of meetings involving Scottish Power, Advantage West Midlands, Shropshire County Council and now Shropshire Council. These have tried to resolve the ludicrous failure to deliver power to the new Waymills Industrial Estate at Whitchurch. Grocontinental is a highly sucessful local business, working in an intensely competitive industry which has expanded in recent years and despite the current recession, continues to grow. It is totally unacceptable that such a successful company is being held back by the failure to deliver power to these facilities. It is utterly bizarre that in a first world country in 2010 power is currently being supplied by diesel generators. I have it on good authority that other new businesses would like to move onto this industrial estate bringing several hundred new jobs. Last week I organised a meeting with the Leader of Shropshire Council, Cllr Keith Barrow and local Councillor for Whitchurch Rural, Cllr Gerald Dakin. The Director of Development services Tom McCabe estimates that over ten years the demand would be in the region of 10MVA. This will require increased power supply to Grindley Brook and a new connection to Waymills. It is imperative that this is completed by 1st January 2011. Shropshire Council are as exasperated as I am by this saga; they are keen to help. I would like to convene a meeting as soon as possible with senior directors from your organisation who are competent to make a swift decision with Shropshire Council. I look forward to hearing from you shortly.”
