Plans for a disruptive city centre power cut in Manchester during the crucial Christmas trading period have been scrapped following a significant backlash from local businesses who feared devastating financial losses.
Businesses Faced 'Worst Possible Time' for Outage
Last week, 41 properties near Princess Street were notified by SP Electricity North West that a necessary power outage was scheduled for 8pm on December 11. The work was expected to last approximately seven hours, with power not fully restored until 3am the following morning.
Jon and Sara Saunby, owners of the Salut Wine Shop on Cooper Street, were among those who immediately raised the alarm. Having operated their business since 2014, they described the timing as catastrophic. Sara explained that the cut would eliminate their final three trading hours on a key pre-Christmas Thursday, a period they rely on heavily.
"We're usually open late throughout the week, so this would hit us during the busiest period of the year," Sara told the Manchester Evening News. She also highlighted the knock-on effects, stating they would have to close early to prepare stock and faced uncertainty with their cold store being out of action overnight.
Collective Action Leads to Reprieve
Faced with a potential loss she estimated at around £6,000, Sara Saunby contacted the energy provider, suggesting they simply push the works back a few hours into the night to minimise the commercial impact. When this initial appeal seemed to stall, she escalated the matter, seeking support from Sacha Lord, the Night Time Industries Association Chair, and local MP Lucy Powell.
Mr Lord publicly condemned the plan on social media platform X, calling it "appalling" and questioning why the work couldn't be scheduled for the quieter month of January. This public pressure, combined with the direct representations, prompted a swift reconsideration from the utility company.
Utility Company Responds to Concerns
On Monday, November 17, SP Electricity North West confirmed the December 11 works were cancelled and would be rescheduled for the new year. A spokesperson for the company stated that while the building owner housing the equipment had initially agreed to the date, the wider concerns from other local businesses were taken into account.
"We consulted with the owner of the building... before agreeing the original time and date to minimise impact," the spokesperson said. "We provided all affected businesses with four weeks' notice, which allows us time to take individual businesses' views into account, and we're happy to reschedule the work for an alternative date in the new year."
The decision has brought immense relief to traders on Cooper Street, Booth Street, and the surrounding area, who can now operate uninterrupted during their most profitable trading season.
