Schools closed after water main burst
A BURST water main caused two Derby schools to close yesterday.
Mickleover Primary School confirmed to the Derby Telegraph that it had to shut due to problems with water pressure and supply after the incident on Station Road.
Parents also reported the closure of nearby Silverhill Primary School, on Draycott Drive.
Work on the burst pipe in Station Road may continue into the middle of next week.
The road, which is a major route in and out of Mickleover, is closed from Starflower Way to Onslow Road while the emergency works are carried out.
Severn Trent has said that the incident is not linked to recent roadworks in the vicinity.
A large section of the road near the new housing development was flooded by the water while many residents were left without supplies.
Severn Trent Water, which manages the water supply for most of Derbyshire, received reports at around 7am on Wednesday of families in Mickleover either not receiving water to their homes at all, or receiving it at lower pressure.
Some residents reported brown water coming out of their taps, with Severn Trent moving to reassure them this is not dangerous.
A spokesperson for Mickleover’s group of Conservative councillors said yesterday: “Severn Trent have confirmed that the burst/damaged supply is not down to any of the works which were carried out in the area earlier this year, and is older infrastructure failing.
“Whilst water supply issues are being resolved quickly, the reality is that, as things stand, the entire section of the road will need to be repaired/resurfaced.
“Anything less than repair and resurfacing the whole area could mean that the road will almost certainly fail in the short term, causing further road works and temporary closures etc.
“Assessments to allow vehicles through using temporary signals have shown that it isn’t an option due to the condition of sub-base under what’s left of the road.
“The damage is extensive, not just where damage or works are visible on the surface.”
Councillors said: “Severn Trent is on-site and doing their very best to reconnect and maintain residents’ water supplies along with carrying out the significant repair and resurfacing work that is now required.”