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Arran residents fear long wait for restored electricity Arran residents fear long wait for restored electricity
(35 minutes later)
Residents in parts of Arran fear they will remain off the national grid until Friday as areas of Scotland continue to be hit by severe weather.Residents in parts of Arran fear they will remain off the national grid until Friday as areas of Scotland continue to be hit by severe weather.
An 80-year-old suffering from hypothermia has been airlifted to hospital from the west of the island to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock.An 80-year-old suffering from hypothermia has been airlifted to hospital from the west of the island to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock.
Local hotels supplied with generators have been acting as emergency centres.Local hotels supplied with generators have been acting as emergency centres.
Kinloch Hotel manager Fraser Hendry said: "We've been told it could be Friday before we get the supply back."Kinloch Hotel manager Fraser Hendry said: "We've been told it could be Friday before we get the supply back."
Arran, where about 5,000 have been affected, and parts of Kintyre have been without electricity since Friday.Arran, where about 5,000 have been affected, and parts of Kintyre have been without electricity since Friday.
About 3,000 properties in Dumfries and Galloway are also waiting to be reconnected. About 2,000 properties in Dumfries and Galloway are also waiting to be reconnected following a weekend of snow, blizzards and heavy winds.
It follows a weekend of snow, blizzards and heavy winds.
Travel problems have eased after many roads were closed on Friday and Saturday, while rail, ferry and air travel was also disrupted.Travel problems have eased after many roads were closed on Friday and Saturday, while rail, ferry and air travel was also disrupted.
However, a number of roads in the Highlands, Tayside, Grampian and Dumfries and Galloway remain closed and the weather has continued to hamper attempts to reconnect power supplies.However, a number of roads in the Highlands, Tayside, Grampian and Dumfries and Galloway remain closed and the weather has continued to hamper attempts to reconnect power supplies.
Engineers have been ferried over to Arran from the mainland to hook up large generators to create local pockets of power. Scottish and South Energy (SSE) hopes to provide restored power to the whole of Arran by Monday morning via generators that have been ferried to the island since Friday.
Scottish and Southern Energy is still working to reconnect the whole island and to repair three steel towers that have collapsed under the weight of ice on the conductors near Crossaig in Kintyre. Kinloch Hotel is among several heated rest centres set up across the island and has acted as an emergency surgery for the local doctor as well as power company employees attempting to restore the electricity supplies.
Mr Hendry told BBC Scotland: "The bigger villages like Brodock and Lamlash are now fairly clear, but we on the west of the island have borne the brunt of it.
"A lot of people have been walking down for their lunch or dinner and a group of students who were stranded here from Cambridge University helped us deliver supplies to the elderly, but the problem is the smaller hamlets."
'Poles flattened'
The local grocery store was almost now empty, but the hotel manager said a rescue helicopter had delivered supplies three times during Saturday alone.
"But every single electric pole in the village has been flattened and we are running out of diesel for the generator having already borrowed from local farmers," said Mr Hendry.
SSE is also attempting to clear the roads to reach three steel towers that have collapsed under the weight of ice on the conductors near Crossaig in Kintyre.
Forecasters are predicting that the cold snap will continue well into the week.Forecasters are predicting that the cold snap will continue well into the week.
The local council says it is working hard to protect vulnerable and elderly residents.
They are being taken to heated rest centres across the island and offered hot food and drink.
Meanwhile, the main areas affected in the south of Scotland remain Wigtownshire and the Barhill area.Meanwhile, the main areas affected in the south of Scotland remain Wigtownshire and the Barhill area.
A ScottishPower spokesperson said: "More than 200 engineers have been responding to faults in the South West of Scotland since first light today.A ScottishPower spokesperson said: "More than 200 engineers have been responding to faults in the South West of Scotland since first light today.
"Unfortunately, the heavy snow also caused many roads in the region to remain closed this morning and into the afternoon, which has heavily restricted access for our engineers."Unfortunately, the heavy snow also caused many roads in the region to remain closed this morning and into the afternoon, which has heavily restricted access for our engineers.
"We have worked closely with the local authority and Transport Scotland, who have had digging teams and tractors working to clear roads of snow drifts of up to 10ft."We have worked closely with the local authority and Transport Scotland, who have had digging teams and tractors working to clear roads of snow drifts of up to 10ft.
"Helicopter patrols were also unavailable until late afternoon due to the weather conditions."Helicopter patrols were also unavailable until late afternoon due to the weather conditions.
"Progress has been made across the day and several thousand homes have had power restored."Progress has been made across the day and several thousand homes have had power restored.
"We currently have approximately 3,000 properties in this area off supply.
"Our engineers will work as late as is safely possible, but it is likely that some customers will remain off supply overnight.""Our engineers will work as late as is safely possible, but it is likely that some customers will remain off supply overnight."
To access more information from your mobile, visit the BBC Weather and BBC Travel News sites.To access more information from your mobile, visit the BBC Weather and BBC Travel News sites.
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