Imagine this: freezing temperatures are sweeping across South Devon, and thousands of residents are left without gas. But here's where it gets frustrating – the very homes that could be warmed up are sitting empty, their owners nowhere to be found. That's right, the surge in second homes and holiday lets in the area is now causing unexpected delays in restoring gas supplies to those who desperately need it.
Since January 3rd, when a gas main was damaged near Kingsbridge by what Wales and West Utilities described as a "third party," engineers have been working tirelessly to reconnect homes. The company reported that by the evening of January 4th, their teams had already visited 90% of the affected properties. However, this is the part most people miss – the process isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. Workers must visit each property twice: once to turn off the gas supply and again to relight appliances once the network is safe. Sounds straightforward, right? Not quite.
The challenge lies in the sheer number of second homes and holiday lets in areas like Salcombe, where nearly half of the dwellings are unoccupied for much of the year. According to parish records, Salcombe has 574 second homes and 299 holiday lets, making up 45.3% of its total properties. With owners miles away and often unreachable, gaining access to these properties has become a logistical nightmare. Wales and West Utilities has even issued a plea to local letting agencies, estate agents, and keyholders to help coordinate access, but it’s a slow process.
And here’s the controversial part: while these empty homes are a boon for the local economy during peak seasons, they’re now inadvertently causing hardship for full-time residents. A spokesperson for the utility company explained that engineers are forced to revisit these properties repeatedly to gain access, diverting resources away from restoring gas to those who need it most. "It delays us from isolating the necessary properties and safely restoring supplies," they noted.
By Monday evening, the company provided an update: over 100 engineers, many brought in from other areas, were working around the clock. Supplies had been restored in Malborough, and progress was being made in Kingsbridge and Salcombe. However, properties with no one home remained a hurdle. The company has left contact cards and is urging anyone responsible for these homes to reach out.
But here’s a thought-provoking question: As the demand for second homes and holiday lets continues to rise, should local authorities and utility companies implement stricter regulations to ensure access during emergencies? Or is this simply an unavoidable consequence of a thriving tourism economy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. One thing’s for sure – as the cold snap persists, finding a balance between economic growth and community resilience has never been more critical.
