Kilcullen businesses forced to close next Monday due to electricity cuts

Concerns are mounting that a Co Kildare town is set for huge revenue losses for businesses due to ongoing ESB interruptions.

Outrage is being expressed by businesses in Kilcullen that on Monday, October 15, all businesses will be forced to close.

Due to the laying of fibre optic cabling for broadband and trees falling, the ESB have been carrying out repairs, leading to disruptions.

Community activist and native of Kilcullen Antoinette Buckley said: “Businesses cannot afford to take this hit and are requesting the ESB to do their ESB works on a Sunday morning or a Bank Holiday Monday. It's unfair to think that businesses are forced to close on a business day.”

She said: “If the ESB were more specific with times maybe businesses could work around it.”

The owner of a cafe on Kilcullen who has had to close up three times over the past few months is concerned that businesses can’t take the loss of another day’s revenue.

A butcher in Kilcullen says that Monday is one of the busiest days.

Ms Buckley said: “He can't cook, or prepare his front counters with produce, weigh foods, lights, tills, coffee machine, back of house preparation etc. A huge loss to his business.are aware that vital ESB works need to be carried out in the town but if they would carry these works out at times with least interruption to businesses . Forced to close a business on a business day is just not acceptable. Four hits this year is really hitting hard in our business community.”

Fine Gael Cllr Fintan Brett is concerned that despite repeated requests from politicians and business owners in Kilcullen to change the scheduling for cutting the electricity supply, no changes are being made.

Electricity supplies to schools and residents will be cut over the weekend while power supplies to businesses is being cut on Monday.