POWER cuts in Oxford have become a serious problem and are damaging the city’s economy, it was claimed last night.

A blackout on Monday was the seventh in the city in 18 months and caused havoc for shops and businesses, forcing many to close for more than an hour.

Critics said Southern Electric needed to do more to deal with faults, but the firm insisted there were no long-term problems affecting Oxford.

The latest loss of power affected 150 properties in Cornmarket Street, New Inn Hall Street and Shoe Lane.

Carfax ward city councillor Tony Brett said Southern Electric needed to invest more in the city’s supply network.

He said: “I believe this is a serious problem. I really feel for the traders who are losing trade, because they keep having to close their businesses. They’re losing a lot of money because of power cuts. There are also safety issues, because traffic and street lights are also going out.

“Maybe the investment in infrastructure has not been good enough.”

Graham Jones, spokesman for city centre traders’ group Rox, said businesses were suffering.

He said: “Companies still have to pay staff wages, even if the shops are shut.

“Southern Electric needs to get it together. They expect to make a profit but they need to give Oxford’s businesses a fair crack of the whip. Traders will lose money every time a power cut occurs.”

Most of the recent power cuts have affected the city centre, Jericho and Osney.

Earlier this month 1,500 customers were left without electricity for nearly three hours after a fault at the Osney sub-station.

In April, electricity went off at 66 homes and businesses in the Merton Street, High Street, St Aldate’s and Westgate areas, with 277 more customers in the same area losing power an hour later.

Last November, about 150 businesses in Cornmarket Street, St Aldate’s, St Ebbe’s and New Hall Inn Street were affected by a fault in an underground cable.

Southern Electric spokesman Samantha O’Connor said: “We would like to apologise to those affected by the interruption to the supplies in Oxford on Monday.

“We can assure residents that there are no ongoing faults in the area.

“We’re constantly investing in our network and spent over £13m in the Oxford area alone last year.

“The interruption to supplies on Monday was caused by a fault with an underground cable, which has been repaired.”

Oxford City Council said Monday’s fault caused disruption to its telephone and internet services, including online payments and planning applications.