AROUND 1,800 hundred properties were plunged into darkness when a power cut hit Haslemere last Thursday morning. The power loss happened around 8.45am with electricity being restored to all but 500 properties by 9.45am. To ease the problem Southern Electric brought in mobile generators to affected areas. By early evening the electricity company had found the source of the problem - an underground cable - located in the Recreation Ground, Tanners Lane. Engineers worked through the night to restore power. A spokesman for Southern Electric said: "Our main priority is to restore supply to our customers. Haslemere station was connected at around 9.30pm. We are currently investigating the cause of the power cut." Commuters arriving at Haslemere station found disruption was kept to a minimum. A spokesman for South West Trains said that extra revenue staff with hand-held ticket machines were on site plus extra management staff were drafted in to help commuters with their rail destination queries. The rail operator also had contingency plans in place to use emergency lighting at dusk. But it was local businesses and residents who fell foul of the cut. At Hammonds newsagents in Station Approach, shop assistant Mr Sherlock kept the shop open with the help of the shop's own petrol driven generator. He said: "Obviously business has been severely hit today, especially the fresh food that we sell." On the other side of the station Ozcan Babur, owner of the popular Metro Cafe said: "Business has been blown up since 8-45am as I have had to shut down. They say the electricity will come on later this evening. Everything I have is electric and I have lost a lot of customers - I have lost £300-400 in takings. I will have to throw everything out of the fridge." Local resident Richard Clarke, 63, of Cedar Court, Haslemere, said: "I have been without a fridge, freezer or television all day. It has taken a lot longer than I expected to get it fixed". Also affected by the loss of power were the two pelican crossings outside the station.
