Haydon Wick Parish Council is calling on EDF Energy to take urgent action following a three-month delay in installing a three-phase electricity meter at the Council’s newly constructed Grounds Maintenance Facility on Blunsdon Road, Swindon.
The building is near completion and ready for use. However, essential systems—including fire alarms, heating, and security infrastructure—cannot operate without a functioning power supply. As a result, the Facility cannot legally or safely open.
EDF acknowledged the installation request in March 2025, and has repeatedly assured the Council that the matter has been escalated. Yet, to date, no confirmed installation date has been provided. Compounding the issue, EDF continues to charge a standing fee for a supply that has not been delivered.
Meanwhile, the delay is forcing the Council to lease external premises to sustain critical grounds maintenance operations, at an ongoing cost of over £1,000 per month—a burden carried by public funds. These operations include the Council’s grass cutting team, hedge and tree maintenance team, parks and open spaces staff, and the bin and tidy-up team, all of whom deliver daily critical frontline services to over 23,000 residents across the parish.
“This is a completed public facility sitting idle due to a preventable delay,” said Councillor Vinay Manro, Chairman of Haydon Wick Parish Council. “The longer this goes on, the more pressure it puts on our services and our budget. EDF must act before the situation worsens.”
A formal complaint has been submitted. The Council is also exploring the use of temporary power as a short-term workaround, but this would come at additional cost and complexity. The Council is therefore calling on EDF to urgently provide the following:
- A confirmed installation date within seven working days
- A written explanation for the prolonged delay
- A review and refund of standing charges applied during the non-supply period
“If this matter is not resolved promptly,” Cllr Manro added, “the Council will escalate the case to Ofgem and raise it publicly with other relevant bodies. This situation demands urgency and accountability.”
Haydon Wick Parish Council remains committed to opening the new facility as soon as possible and will continue to keep the public updated on progress.
