Water Meadow
PAUL McLAUGHLIN
Local businesses and residents in Queens Road have been left frustrated by Southern Water’s failure to take responsibility for fixing a burst water pipe which has been left to release hundreds of gallons of water into the busy thoroughfare opposite the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre for almost a month.
Muhammad Abdullah, who runs the Hastings Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Store, first reported the burst pipe directly outside his shop towards the end of March, and he has made several complaints to the water company since. He said: “All they seem to do is send around people very early in the morning to take some pictures and then we hear nothing back. Some workmen came again this morning (Wednesday 12 April), took more pictures, and then left without saying a word. If only they would explain to us what was going on and when we can expect the leak to be fixed – but they never do.”
Jodene James, who owns the women’s clothes shop, Pure Clothing, next door has made similar complaints to Southern Water and to Hastings Borough Council (HBC), again without any success. She complains that the leak has seriously impacted her business. She has had to wash her floors multiple times throughout the day as customers tramp wet shoes through the shop damaging the flooring, and she has been forced to put down cardboard as a temporary measure to ensure her customers do not lose their footing. She says the amount of water gushing is such that she has seen several pedestrians slip and one elderly lady fall over. It is “just ridiculous that the leak has not been fixed”, she says, and “it will be us bill payers who will have to stump up the money in higher water bills, just you wait and see.”
Muhammad Ahmed, the owner of Second Glance, has been similarly affected. He too has complained to Southern Water but was told each time that the burst water pipe was nothing to do with them. “It is so frustrating”, he says. “Nobody ever seems to take responsibility for what is happening. It is a burst water pipe. Please, just fix it.”
A spokesman for Southern Water explained to HIP that “following an investigation, the leak was located within the customer side at Queens Road – the customer has now organised a private contractor to fix the leak today” (last Friday, 14 April).
Workmen did indeed attend the burst pipe that morning. They worked for up to three hours on the “repair” – and then left with water continuing to trickle through the newly tarred surface leaving local business owners exasperated. Though not leaking as extensively as before, the running water still poses a danger to pedestrians and a massive irritation to local businesses.
A spokesperson for HBC says it has been in contact with Southern Water and will continue to push for the leak to be fixed. But, by the look of things, Jodene James is unlikely to be lifting her cardboard carpet any time soon.
Southern Water advises: “if any of customers see a leak, they should report it straightaway by calling the Leakline on freephone 0800 820 999 or 0330 303 0146.”
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