AFTER a blackout left more than 1,700 properties in the TA19 area in darkness, Coop and Tesco confirmed food in their fridges and freezers had to be 'withdrawn'.
From around 8.20pm on Tuesday, March 10, until around 1am on Wednesday, March 11 multiple properties in the TA19 area were without power, with 1,729 properties initially impacted, including Coop and Tesco stores in Ilminster.
In a statement issued by a spokesperson for National Grid Electricity Distribution, it was confirmed that the power cut was a result of a crash that broke a pole, bringing down the lines.
To fix the damage, ‘urgent repairs’ were required, with power fully restored after 1am this morning (Wednesday, March 11).
As a result of this, stores such as Coop and Tesco were left without power, meaning that all the food in the fridges and freezers was impacted.
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More than 1,700 Ilminster properties plunged into darkness after major blackout
When approached for comment, a spokesperson for Coop said colleagues in the store in The Square, Cornhill, Ilminster, took steps to preserve as much stock as possible to avoid surplus food going to waste.
A Co-op spokesperson said: “As a responsible retailer, Co-op is committed to preventing any surplus, good food from going to waste.
“Following the local power outage, colleagues work hard to adhere to all food safety requirements, taking steps to preserve as much stock as possible and replenish shelves as soon as we can."
A spokesperson for Tesco said that due to the power cut, staff in the store on Shudrick Lane had to ‘withdraw’ some frozen and chilled food from sale.
They said: “Due to a power cut impacting the fridges and freezers at our Ilminster Superstore on Tuesday evening, we had to withdraw some frozen and chilled food from sale. We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused.”
In response, Gareth B, a resident, voiced his concern about the food being thrown away, calling it a ‘shocking shame’ that the food went to waste.
He said: “So many families could have done with that food.”
Both stores are open as normal, with Tesco continuing to make its usual food donations to its food charity partners.
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