Vince Cable

The anxiety in some residential areas of Twickenham that a high voltage cable would be laid through their streets and next to homes has been defused with the agreement between the council and EDF to re-route the cable.

On a separate issue, EDF has admitted that it was slow to pick up the fault causing black outs in the St Margarets area; permanent repairs to a faulty section of the cable have been carried out; and all residents affected have been given a £50 goodwill compensation.

Vincent Cable said: "there has been a lot of criticism of this - French - company but they have responded quickly to representations I and the council made on the high voltage cable land responded - albeit belatedly - to complaints by residents, and me, about intermittent supplies. Some of the other utilities should, perhaps, learn to do the same".