Food traders plea to council not to cut off power
BBCSomerset Council says it can no longer afford to pay the £31,000-a-year bill to supply electricity to traders in Fore Street, Taunton.
Eight businesses have now launched a petition to stop the move, which is due to take effect at the end of March.
The council, which declared a financial emergency in 2023, says it is "investigating alternative options".
Alex Frost, owner of Super Juice, called on the council to find a way to keep the electricity supply on, saying losing it would "destroy" her business "overnight".
"We were given invoices for our pitch, including electricity, and that's what we've paid.
"If they're now realising they're losing money then, moving forward, charge us for what we're using," she added.
Co-owner of the Hot Sausage Company, James Nas, agreed and said he is also "happy" to pay for the electricity.
"They gave us a licence," he added. "We're not here illegally."
Somerset Council says upgrading the system so traders can cover the costs themselves is unaffordable.
The option of using generators was met with opposition, according to the owner of Spud Shack, Shaun Wainwright.
He said: "The environment was brought up, around the noise and the environmental impact."
Ms Frost added: "I'm sure if we had a generator that was powerful enough to trade with their would be complaints, especially at this pitch outside cafes."
A Somerset Council spokesperson said the authority understood the traders' concerns but insisted financial pressures meant it could no longer justify the cost.
"The council is investigating alternative options and we will continue to explore these with Taunton Town Council," they added.
It added that some traders get their electricity from Market House, which is due to be sold.
Taunton Town Council said it is working quickly to find both interim and longer-term solutions.
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