A frustrated businessman trying to give a derelict town centre space a new lease of life feels stuck in limbo due to delays with the electricity company.

Simon Benjamin has invested thousands of pounds into buying the lease for the empty unit that once housed the Slurping Toad pub on Bridge Street and getting contractors and staff ready to help turn it into a unique takeaway.

But arranging what seemed like a simple task of replacing three fuses so that power can be restored to the building, which has lain dormant for 16 years, led to months of dead ends and setbacks delaying his entrepreneurial efforts.

The 58-year-old, who moved to Swindon from Yorkshire five years ago, has had to use the torch on his phone to carry out a few minor alterations such as adding chairs and tables, setting up new counters, and pulling off the boards over the front entrance.

When all is said and done, Simon hopes to open a carvery and bap takeaway called Something Tasty which will also have has a noticeboard for people to post things they want to buy and sell, and charging points for electric wheelchairs.

But at the moment, he is still in the dark as to when the electricity supply can be restored and has taken on a part-time cleaning job to pay other utility bills.

He said: “It’s been a bloody nightmare, just one thing after another, stressing me out, it’s ridiculous.

“First it took more than two years to complete the contract, then SSE said they don’t supply the building and it doesn’t exist on their books.

“It was hard enough just to get through to anyone, then the section you reach doesn’t know or can’t help and palms you off to someone else instead of solving the problem.

“They eventually said that they contract out who puts the fuses in to an asset company, but then there was a technical problem that stopped the booking being made, so I had to go all the way back to square one.

“There’s seemingly just one person in charge of this particular work in the whole of South England, and he was unavailable at first.

“Then when he came out, he said the fuses here are not up to the job – but they were before, surely? – and he didn’t have any bigger ones in his van so he left.

“Last I heard, they have now quoted me for an upgrade that I never asked for. I just want what was there to be plugged in so the power can come back on, they’ve had my deposit since June.

“It’s a big building with big possibilities, but I feel like I’m stuck in limbo.”

Contractors have been employed to carry out maintenance and repairs to the water-damaged upper floor of the building, a few restaurant staff have been trained, and potential customers have expressed interest in the new venture.

But nothing can progress until that lightbulb moment when the problem with the fuses is finally solved.

A Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks spokesperson said: “We’d like to thank our customer for their patience while we work to put in place a safe electricity supply to the property concerned.

“The building has lain empty for a considerable period - which can present some challenges to our engineers - and we appreciate it’s also taking some time to establish and progress the specific works required in this case.

“We are working to complete the connection as soon as we can.”