School gets its power back today
AN IPSWICH school has finally had its power restored today, after having to make a last-minute decision to close its doors and send hundreds of pupils home yesterday.
AN IPSWICH school has finally had its power restored today, after having to make a last-minute decision to close its doors and send hundreds of pupils home yesterday.
The power cuts happened on Monday night, and by yesterday morning contractors had delivered a generator to Holywells High School – but were still waiting for the worker to connect it.
Chairman of Governors Reverend Chris Jowett said the decision to close the school was made at 7.45am yesterday, and local radio was notified.
He said: "It wasn't much notice. I understand some parents will have been upset – certainly some parents queried what was happening, and as soon as we told them they understood. But we were without telephones ourselves so it was very difficult."
Chairman of Parent Teacher Association, George Dedman said: "I think that considering what happened, the school made the right decision, even though it was not the school's fault.
"I know the school were correct in what they were doing."
Most Read
- 1 New 99-room Ipswich Travelodge expected to open next year
- 2 7 roadworks for drivers in Suffolk to be aware of this week
- 3 7 things around Ipswich which are among the best in the country
- 4 Ipswich girl with cyst on brain struggling to get diagnosis
- 5 See inside £1.65m Ipswich home with swimming pool and games room
- 6 Police carry out 'pre-planned' operation in Felixstowe road
- 7 Man detained after early morning incident in Ipswich road
- 8 Man dies after being found unresponsive in Sudbury river
- 9 'We're blown away' - Classic car show visits care home after roadworks setback
- 10 Ipswich MP renews support for food van fighting council's plans
Rev Jowett added: "The temperatures were very low and there was no lighting, no phone contact, nothing. It would have been quite dangerous. It was the right decision which staff took.
"Nobody is happy, but these are things that are out of our control.
"I've been in to the school today. It's lit up, it's warm, and we're definitely open."
A spokeswoman for electricity supplier 24seven said the area had experienced two faults shortly after 7pm on Monday, which affected 1,300 homes.
Although many homes were reconnected quickly, by yesterday morning the network became overloaded and the school remained without power.
