By the Packet issue of February 14, 1947, there was still no indication of any further significant snowfall having hit the Falmouth-Penryn area, but a front page editorial left readers in no doubt as to the severity of the Big Freeze’s effects.
Here is that Packet message in full:--
We wish to impress upon our readers that the crisis caused by the shortage of coal is VERY grave, and we urge them to co-operate with the authorities by using the absolute minimum of electricity, gas and solid fuel.
The Cornish Riviera has been spared the prolonged spell of hard weather, and electricity cuts experienced by the remainder of the country, but we must not allow our good fortune to blind us to the gravity of this crisis.
One result of the crisis is that from February 12th all newspapers were ordered to revert to their wartime sixes. This week’s issue of the Falmouth Packet is, therefore, four pages instead of six, and we shall continue to publish four-page issues until further notice.
News items, features and advertisements have had to be curtailed or omitted, but we know our readers and advertisers will understand these cuts and omissions are unavoidable under the present circumstances.
Falmouth Gas Company has one week’s supply of coal in stock and is waiting for the arrival of the motor vessel Avidity, from Hull with a cargo of 400 tons of coal.
Recent storms and freeze-ups have delayed all transport, but if the Avidity is able to sail to schedule her arrival, expected at the beginning of next week, will greatly ease the situation in this district.
There is no coke to spare for any consumers in the area, other than the bakers. Schools, shops, cinemas and other places will have to go without supplies, since the coke is being used to make water gas. Unless more coal comes into the port, the present coke supply will disappear altogether.
Last week’s output of gas for this area was 25 per cent above that of the corresponding week of last year, and the manager of the gas company, Mr F G Kingwell, told the Packet that the public are not economising as they should.
Cases have occurred where gas jets on cooking stoves have been left burning for the sole purpose of heating a room.
Economy warnings have been given to consumers by the Penryn and Helston Gas Companies, but the public is not responding.
Penryn is fortunate in having three weeks’ stock of coal, but until last Friday had only three days’ supply to rely upon. Pressure is being considerably reduced from 11 in the evening until 6 in the morning.
At Helston, coal stocks are severely depleted, and because of the lack of co-operation from consumers pressure is being cut down to the safety margin from 1.30 to 4.30 each afternoon.
* See also blog posts Jan 20 and Feb 02
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