Last winter Hambledon suffered from extensive power cuts when high winds brought down power lines.

In a rural and heavily wooded village it was trees and branches falling onto electricity supply cables that caused most of the problems.

SSE, the power supplier, has embarked on an extensive programme of tree cutting around high, and some low, voltage lines to clear them of overhanging branches that pose a threat to power distribution. It has also pledged to improve communications at its emergency call centre. A lack of up-to-date information was one of the major frustrations last winter.

In the event of a power failure customers should, in the first instance, contact SSE on 08000 727 282 to report the problem.

The parish council has an emergency plan in place in the event of severe weather and its co-ordinator will be able to contact a newly-appointed customer and community advisor at SSE who can provide additional information. This will then be displayed at key locations in the village, such as the village shop and pub.

One of the most important things to remember during a sustained power failure is that many household phones that require electricity will not work and that mobile phone networks may also fail. Batteries on mobile phones cannot be recharged.

It is worth ensuring that you have, as a back-up, an analogue phone that simply plugs into a BT socket but does not require electricity to operate. You can then continue to make and receive calls, as long as telephone lines have not been damaged.

Radio is a vital means of finding out information during a sustained power cut, so make sure you have one that can operate on battery power, with spare batteries to hand.

It is also worth remembering that the red phone box at the village shop will continue to work during a power failure. It no longer takes coins but you can make emergency calls for free, reverse the charges by dialling the operator on 100 or use your credit card by following the instructions given inside the kiosk.

Analogue phones are still available to buy if you no longer have one.  SSE has provided the parish council with four corded analogue phones, four wind-up radios, four battery-operated emergency lights, several dozen light sticks, five thermal foil blankets and four heat packs for warming cold hands.

If you, or anyone you know, would benefit from any of these, please contact Stewart Payne, the emergency planning coordinator on 07831 393561.

Stewart, assisted by Tim Coleman on 07838 763767 and Nick Watson on 07770 553686, will be on hand to offer assistance in the event of severe weather causing problems in the village.

Surrey County Council is the main coordinator during weather-related emergencies and general advice and latest information can be found at www.surreycc.gov.uk/winter.

Travel updates can be found at www.twitter.com/surreytravel.

Waverley Borough Council offers general advice on winter preparations at www.waverley.gov.uk (put “winter” into the search bar). Latest information can be found at www.twitter.com/waverleybc.

Regular radio updates can be heard on BBC Surrey on 104.6 FM and on Eagle on 96.4 FM.

Other useful contact numbers can be found in the parish magazine.

And, at all times, be a good neighbour and make sure that those living close to you are coping.  Please let Stewart Payne know of any who may be considered vulnerable so that they can be checked on in an emergency.