View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
May 29, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Pocklington Post wins cash for power customers

By Press Gazette

The Pocklington Post has succeeded in getting hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation for its readers from a Yorkshire electricity company.

In April, 6,000 homes in the weekly Post’s area were affected by an electrical surge and thousands of of pounds’ worth of household appliances were wrecked. The power company, YEDL, initially declined to take responsibility. Instead, it advised consumers to claim for damage on their home insurance.

Readers of the Postwere outraged and urged their local paper to do something on their behalf. The Post launched a campaign for compensation and published coupons in the paper for readers to sign in support.

Eventually, said editor Karen Darley, the Post arranged a meeting with YEDL’s consumer services director Mike Leighton.

“Initially, he took the same company stance, saying, ‘No, sorry. It’s not our responsibility’,” said Darley. “But there has been a turnaround and the company has offered everybody affected £100 each – so they are going to pay out between £500,000 and £600,000. We are absolutely delighted that the company has listened to our readers and responded in such a way. It’s a marvellous result.”

Leighton told the paper: “We still claim we are not legally responsible for what happened. In view of the damage and inconvenience caused, we are prepared to pay the customers a gesture of £100.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network