A SIX-MINUTE failure in the electricity supply saw PetersfieldÕs post office out of action for four hours on Monday.
The post office closed when the power failed at 9-34 am and although electricity was restored at 9-40 am customers, many of them pensioners, were still queuing outside an hour later.
It was very cold and a small notice stuck on the post office door said the premises were closed because of a power failure but gave no indication of how long customers would have to wait.
A Post Office Ltd spokeswoman said the power cut threw the cut-out switch at the Petersfield office and this knocked out the lights and the electric doors.
ÒThe staff were unable to get the power back,Ó she said, Òand could not open the office because, being unlit, it would have been unsafe.
ÒAn engineer had to be called in to deal with the problem and the office was finally able to re-open at 1-30 pm.
ÒWe apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers.Ó
Town councillor John Crowhurst was one of those shut out.
ÒA better notice would have been a great help so we knew how long they thought it would be before the office could open.
ÒI was worried about some of the pensioners, who had probably made a special trip to use the post office that morning. It was too cold to stand around for long.Ó
Petersfield Library also suffered from the power cut. It should have opened at 9-30 am but was unable to do so until 9-50 am when the lighting was properly restored.
Reference librarian John Sadden said this was a matter of safety.
ÒWe are able to function without our computers but the lighting must be on and in order.Ó
The power loss on Monday covered only a small area and a spokesman for S+S (formerly Southern Electric) said its engineers were still uncertain of the cause.
On Tuesday there was another three-minute power loss at 7-49 am when a fuse blew and was then reset.
The area without power included Buriton, Butser, East Meon, Froxfield, Langrish, Liss, Petersfield, Ramsdean, North, South and West Harting, Steep and Stroud.