VILLAGERS in and around Chiddingfold are due to get their electricity from mobile generators next week while a £130,000 upgrade to electricity lines gets under way.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks say work is due to start on Monday and will see an extensive tree-cutting programme and installation of new equipment along nearly six miles of overhead lines.

Speaking ahead of the work, Chris Slingsby, SSE’s head of customer operations, said: “We are committed to doing everything we can to keep the lights on for our customers, and to prevent power cuts. With this project we’ll be ensuring the lines which bring electricity to the communities around Chiddingfold are kept free from trees which, during storms and extreme weather, can sometimes blow into our lines and cause the power to go off.

“We will also be installing new protection equipment and carrying out maintenance on our network at the same time.”

To allow teams to work in safety, the power on the overhead lines will be turned off with electricity coming from mobile generators, which will be installed at various points on the network during the day on Monday, and then removed at the end of the project, which is expected to be on Monday, September 26. When the generators are being installed and removed, customers will be without power for two to three hours, SSE warned.

The company says its team of advisers has been out in the community to hand-deliver letters to customers ahead of the work starting, letting them know when the generators will be installed and removed so that they can make provision for the short time their power is off.

Those who have a particular reliance on electricity can register for the priority service register.

Mr Slingsby said: “We realise that for some customers, being without electricity can be a particularly worrying time, for example they may rely on power for home medical equipment or have a young baby in the family. For these customers we have our priority service register, and by signing up to this free service we are able to offer them extra help and support on the rare occasions that the power is off.”

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks will have an information point set up in the car park of Coombe Lane Recreation Ground next Monday, September 19, and next Thursday, September 22, from 10am until 1pm to answer any questions or offer advice to residents.