Burst pipe hits traders (From Stroud News and Journal)

Burst pipe hits traders

NAILSWORTH ground to a halt when its water supply was shut off on Wednesday.

Schools were forced to close and businesses turned away customers. The water supply was cut off because a main pipe burst outside the Cross Inn, Fountain Street.

Over the next 24 hours nearly all the homes in the area were affected, including Inchbrook, Horsley and Woodchester.

And residents anger reached boiling point when they couldn't find out when the water would be restored.

They said the Severn Trent helpline telephone number failed to provide them with any useful information.

Helene Perrin-Summers, of Brewery Lane, was one of the first to report the leak.

She said: "I walked past the Cross at 4.30pm and water was gushing down Market Street.

"I phoned Severn Trent straight away but had to hold for 20 minutes. "I was so cross. The water was still running at 9pm."

The Cross pub suffered thousands of pounds of damage to equipment and stock.

Manager Gwyn Williams said: "It started at 4pm but we didn't realise it was getting into the cellar until 6pm. Severn Trent came out and put down sand bags."

Although the water was turned off immediately, the leak did not stop until 10am the next day. Water was restored to the pub on Thursday morning but the George Inn at Newmarket, had to turn away more than 20 customers.

George owner Bob Pike said they were out of pocket by around £600 because they did not have water before 7pm and were unlikely to get compensation because the losses were due to an emergency and not planned works.

Nailsworth and Horsley primary schools both had to send children home. Mayor Lesley Williams-Allen did not have any water all day at her bed and breakfast in Inchbrook.

She said: "We had a lot of complaints. Retired South Woodchester resident Peter Randall said his water went off at 7am.

When his wife phoned Severn Trent, a recorded message said the company was aware of the problem and more information would be available in two hours.' The same thing happened when they called back at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Severn Trent spokesman Caroline Hosie said she was sorry some people had difficulty getting through to the helpline.

The leak was fixed by 11.30am and the water was back on by 3pm, she said, but complications with a valve meant some homes had to be turned off again.

Everything was back to normal by 8pm.