New shop was flooded as water main sprang a leak

SHOPKEEPERS were left heartbroken after a water main burst in New Street and flooded shops.

The incident happened in October 2001 and left one businesswoman in tears as her shop had only opened the previous day.

Rachelle Evans of the Bride and Bloom shop said: “It is a brand new shop; I only opened on Friday. It was my dream, I have always wanted a wedding shop and then this happens on the second day.

“All the dresses are damaged. I don’t know the cost of the damage yet, I have got to speak to the insurance company. This was my first venture in business and I am devastated.”

Next door Miles Dosher, who ran Shine hairdressers lost an entire day of business when his premises were also flooded. Mr Dosher, who celebrated the shop’s sixth birthday had to cancel bookings from as far afield as Brighton and Nottingham.

The flooding started when a 22in water main in New Street burst. Hundreds of gallons of water flowed along the street and nearby Union Street.

The flood was estimated to have been 12ins deep at one stage.

Firefighters distributed sandbags to protect shops in New Street and the above flats were evacuated. Police blocked off Union Street and Orchard Street, as well as New Street between Uxbridge Street and High Street.

A spokesman for South Staffordshire Water said some properties in Stapenhill were without water for a short period while officials isolated the burst.

The spokesman said: “It is not possible to give a sensible estimate of the amount of water but it was a substantial quantity. A couple of shops have been affected for which we are very sorry.”