Power crisis: Christmas contingency plan for vulnerable residents (From Times Series)

Power crisis: Christmas contingency plan for vulnerable residents

8:30pm Thursday 24th December 2009 in

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ANY ELDERLY and sick people who are still without gas in East Barnet tomorrow will have somewhere to go for Christmas, according to National Grid.

Barnet Council and the gas supplier have launched a contingency plan to ensure that vulnerable people such as the elderly, disabled and unwell are looked after on Christmas Day if they remain without heating and hot water.

The organisations have said arrangements will be made to give them somewhere to stay overnight as well.

Gas engineers said earlier today they were confident that they had enough staff to get all the nearly 2,000 households who lost gas on Sunday, reconnected.

But whether they will succeed or not depends on whether all the remaining water can be pumped out of the system in time.

Those not considered vulnerable will still have some help to find somewhere warm to celebrate Christmas.

A National Grid spokeswoman said: “We are working with the council to identify those who need our help.”

She added that said customers left without gas over Christmas Day and Boxing Day will receive £100 per day over the two days.

The company is maintaining a presence in East Barnet over the holiday period.

To contact staff, call 07810 470890 or 07768 953923.

If you smell gas ring the National Gas Emergency service on 0800 111 999.

Did you get reconnected by Christmas? Contact our duty reporter Suruchi Sharma on ssharma@london.newsquest.co.uk.