Strong winds and rain bring down trees and power lines across the New Forest and Christchurch
TREES and power lines were brought down across roads as strong winds and torrential rain battered the New Forest and Christchurch at the weekend.
Residents woke yesterday (Sunday) and this morning to find several routes blocked and power supplies to homes cut as a result of the previous two nights’ storms.
Two trees found completely blocking Pound Lane in Copythorne on yesterday morning had brought down an overhead line, cutting off supplies to 60 properties in the village and surrounding areas.
Scottish and Southern Energy Networks (SSEN) engineers worked for nearly 24 hours to clear the trees and repair the line.
Power was restored in stages, with all customers reconnected by around 5.30am this morning.
An SSEN spokesperson said: “SSEN would like to apologise to our customers who experienced a loss of power recently and thank them for their patience whilst our engineers worked to restore power as safely and quickly as possible.”
Yesterday morning, trees were also reported to have been found lying across routes including Whitefield Road in New Milton and Ringwood Road, Totton.
Facebook posts by police in Ringwood reported several fallen trees, including one blocking a road from the town to Bransgore, with a downed power line at Venon Dene.
Warning of standing water, leaves and debris on rural roads, the officers urged motorists to drive with extra caution.
“Road conditions are still hazardous with too many drivers going too fast leaving insufficient reaction time,” one post said.
“Drive to survive and leave extra time for journeys and expect danger and obstructions on rural roads in New Forest and further afield.”
The officers praised local farmers and rural traders for their help clearing some affected routes.
Another fallen tree blocking a cattle grid at Newbridge, near Totton, was still across the road this morning having been there since yesterday morning.
Two trees fell across the B3055 Sway Road, just east of the roundabout junction with the B3058 near Bashley, during Saturday night, completely blocking the route.
Overhead power lines were also brought down by this incident, cutting off supplies to 17 properties.
The road remained closed today while SSEN engineers continued repair work, and a Hampshire County Council spokesperson said it could not confirm when the road would be reopened.
Around £300 of damage was caused outside Christchurch’s Two Riversmeet Leisure Complex, off Stony Lane, when winds destroyed an advertising trailer and brought a tree smashing down onto a wooden fence.
A spokesperson for BCP Council, which operates the facility, said repairs were expected to take “a few weeks”, with around £250 being spent on replacement graphics and £50 on a new fence panel.
But they added there had been no impact on the leisure centre’s day-to-day operation.
