Kent Families Endure Eight-Month Power Cut in Land Access Dispute
Ten families residing on Pilgrims Way in Wrotham, Kent, have been left without mains electricity for a staggering eight months, forced to rely entirely on a diesel-powered generator for all their heating and power needs since 23 June 2025. The prolonged outage stems from an unresolved access dispute that has halted critical repair work by UK Power Networks (UKPN).
Root of the Problem: A Stalled Repair
The issue is believed to originate from a fault in an underground transformer located in a nearby field. However, essential repairs have been completely stalled due to a dispute over land access. Residents report that UKPN failed to renew a right of way over the private land where the transformer is situated. With that right now expired, the landowner has allegedly refused to grant access for the necessary repair work, leaving the families in limbo.
What was intended as a temporary generator solution has become a permanent, unreliable fixture. Resident Ros Smith described the instability: "The power went off three times during January, and that was followed by a week of dips and surges in power, which had our house lights flashing like a disco."
Compounding Crises: Theft and Security
The situation deteriorated further in December when thieves targeted the generator site, attempting to rip up electric cables. This act of vandalism once again plunged homes into darkness and left behind a smashed generator and a broken telegraph pole.
In response, UKPN implemented 24/7 security, with a guard stationed in a car at the site. "It must be costing a fortune," remarked Mrs. Smith. "He sits right outside our house all day... He has no facilities." While the security presence is a deterrent, it underscores the absurdity and cost of the prolonged crisis.
Daily Disruption and Professional Hardship
The uncertainty has created significant anxiety and practical problems for the residents. Ros Smith, who works from home as a solicitor with her husband, explained the professional toll: "It’s got to the point where you feel compelled to go into the office, because you can’t risk losing power during an important video call."
Communication from UKPN has been a major point of frustration. "We’ve all rung up to complain at different times, but we all get different stories," said Mrs. Smith, who even attempted a Freedom of Information request, only to be told UKPN is not a public company and not obligated to respond.
A Site in Disarray and Neighbourhood Woes
Residents reported a brief "flurry of activity" several weeks ago, with large diggers appearing on site, potentially to bury a new transformer. However, progress halted abruptly when a fuel lorry supplying the generator became stuck in the churned-up mud. "It’s just a real mess there now," Mrs. Smith lamented.
Neighbour Mike Weaver echoed the sentiment, calling the situation "disgraceful." He highlighted the environmental irony and hazard: the generator site, on National Trust land in a National Landscape area, is now strewn with mats to aid vehicle access, which themselves pose a hazard on the road. "We are actually only 23 miles away from Trafalgar Square in London, but we are having to put up with this sort of service. It’s incredible!" he stated.
The reliance on the generator creates further contradictions. Sonia Weaver pointed out, "Most of us here have electric cars... we are using a polluting diesel generator to charge our electric cars - where’s the irony in that?"
Profound Impact on Family Life
For some families, the impact is severe. Dione Jones' 13-year-old son, who has ADHD and is home-schooled, is deeply affected. "When the power goes off, he can’t do his lessons, and he finds that very upsetting," she said. Night-time outages requiring candles are particularly distressing. Mrs. Jones also worries about the future, questioning, "No one’s going to buy a home where the power is supplied by a generator."
Suzanne Hawk, who lives next to the generator, described it as "a constant stress and worry for everyone," especially those working from home.
Political Intervention and Company Response
The families' plight has drawn the attention of Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge. He has written to the residents expressing sympathy and to Basil Scarsella, CEO of UK Power Networks, urging a swift restoration of mains supply. Tugendhat noted his office is "taking advice on the legislative provision that might enable UK Power Networks to enter the land."
In a statement, a UK Power Networks spokesman said: "We understand residents’ concerns and our team continues to work closely with a landowner to gain access... Following a joint site meeting last month, we believe plans to restore mains supplies have been agreed and we’re awaiting the landowner’s consent to proceed." The company also stated that their security contractor is responsible for the guard's welfare and breaks.
As the wait continues, the ten families in Wrotham remain trapped in an exhausting cycle of uncertainty, reliant on a noisy, polluting generator, with no clear end in sight for the eight-month-long power cut.
