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THAMES WATER’S TARDY TURN-OUT
Erith & Thamesmead MP, John Austin, has complained to Thames Water about their slow response to a mains leak and flooding incident in Belvedere on Friday 18 August. He has also referred the matter to the Regulator Ofwat. John Austin, local councilor, Daniel Francis and the Fire Brigade responded immediately to the concerns of residents of North Road, Belvedere but it was some hours before Thames Water would take any action.
John Austin, who lives nearby was contacted on Friday evening by near neighbours, Richard and Ann Lucas, who are former councilors. John Austin explained: “Richard and Ann had been contacted by Mr Barlow from North Road about 7.30pm. There had been a leak that morning but residents had been told that Thames Water could not send anyone until the following morning. I spoke to Mr Barlow and he told me that the water was up to kerb level and that his and other houses were at risk of flooding. I contacted Thames immediately demanding that they turn out that evening. I was assured they would but they could not give me a time. I alerted Cllr Daniel Francis and he contacted the Council’s emergency team. I then rang the Fire Brigade and walked round the block to see the situation for myself. The Fire Brigade arrived at the same time and a few minutes later the Council’s emergency officer arrived and agreed to provide pumping equipment if it was needed. The Fire Brigade, however, located a manhole under the flooded area and commenced pumping operations. Had they arrived any later, several homes would have been flooded. I want to thank the Fire Brigade and the Council for their prompt response. The Fire Brigade and the Council also contacted Thames Water but it was about 10pm that they arrived – two hours after the Fire Service and 13 hours after it was first reported”.
John Austin said, “I am demanding an enquiry of Thames failure to attend promptly. We have an official drought and if any of my constituents are seen using a hosepipe they face a massive fine but Thames Water appears to have sat back and done nothing whilst thousands of gallons of water poured out of their mains. Once they had arrived Thames did keep me informed about what was happening and they did call back the following morning to say that the leak had been fixed at 2am”.
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