A power cut delayed the start of the count at Alexandra Palace this morning

Fire alarm repair caused power cut that stopped Alexandra Palace election count

By Emma Youle Friday, May 4, 2012
4:48 PM

A power cut that brought the mayoral election count at Alexandra Palace to a halt this morning (Friday, May 4) was caused by fire alarm repair work.

The chief executive of Alexandra Palace and Park Trust, Duncan Wilson, described the 16 minute power outage as regrettable.

But he said the announcement of the mayoral election result is not likely to be delayed as a result of the power loss.

Contractors were testing the fire alarm system when power cut at 7.52am this morning - eight minutes before the election count was due to start. It was restored 16 minutes later.

Mr Wilson said: “We’re still looking into exactly what happened. I think it was the testing of a system that triggered the loss of power, which it wasn’t supposed to do.

“These things happen, it was certainly not something would have expected to happen. Obviously it’s regrettable that it did happen when it did, but we’re investigating the circumstances at the moment.

“But as I understand it the people doing the count managed to re-jig their procedures to make up any lost time.

“I don’t think the loss of power will have a significant impact on the final declaration time.”

He said contractors were carrying out repair work to part of the fire alarm system.

“It’s regrettable,” added Mr Wilson. “But until I know the facts there’s not really much more I can say. I know that all the staff concerned with the count are doing a fantastic job to carry on the counting regardless.”