A cancer survivor has been forced to move into a hotel after a Storm Eowyn power cut been left her freezing at home.
Angela Trainer, 65, from Condorrat, North Lanarkshire, said the power to her home went out on January 24 while the country was under a red weather alert, leaving her and husband Graham, 67, struggling in unbearable conditions.
Angela, who suffers from nerve damage caused by chemotherapy in 2023, described how the extreme cold in her home caused her excruciating pain and forced the couple to abandon their home on Saturday and seek shelter in a nearby hotel.
Angela said: “The power went out just after lunchtime on Friday.
“I layered on extra blankets that night and tried to get some sleep, but the cold made it nearly impossible.
“I had every jumper I owned on but it was freezing cold and unbearable. The pain I was in was excruciating,”
Angela said the couple had hoped it would be a temporary issue, but the following morning, they were still stuck in a dark and freezing home.
They then received a received a text from Scottish Power early on Saturday informing them that their power might be restored.
But later that evening, the couple felt they had no choice but book into a hotel to escape the cold.
Angela, who works as a psychologist, added: “We were freezing and desperate for some warm.
“It was still a dreadful storm outside, but we had no choice. After five hours in the cold, we just couldn’t stay inside any longer.
“We were lucky we could afford a hotel, but I felt terrified for families and pensioners who couldn’t do the same.
“It’s frightening to think about how many people may have been left in danger because of this.”
The couple, who are still without power and have been told it may not return until Tuesday night, have slammed Scottish Power, saying the communication from the energy provider has been unacceptable.
Angela continued: “There has to be a better system in place.
“I know the engineers on the ground are working tirelessly, but the lack of planning and communication from the top is unacceptable. People’s lives could be at risk.”
A spokesperson for SP Energy Networks said: “We know how difficult it is for those who are still affected by the storm and commend our customers for their support and resilience as we work to restore power.
“We’ve offered hotel accommodation for those who need it – either organising directly or reimbursing customers. We’ve also provided access to hot food for every customer for every meal.
“We’ve also provided generators for those who need them most to ensure they have an alternative supply.
“The scale of this operation cannot be underestimated, our entire network area has been affected and we are doing everything we can to get power restored and support our customers until it’s back on.”
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