Broken pipe wastes our water and is dangerous
Winter ice rink fears if storm drain leak is not repaired
cmcwethy@thekmgroup.co.uk A councillor is warning that a water leak may turn a Hollingbourne road into a treacherous ice rink if nothing is done to fix it.
The cracked pipe, in Bourneside Terrace off Eyhorne Street, was first reported on November 4, but a month later residents are still no closer to finding out when it will be repaired.
Hollingbourne parish councillor Alan Bennett, who lives in the street, reckons more than 500 litres of water are being lost every day.
He said: “It is just a conservative estimate, but it fills up a litre glass in a few minutes.
“It could become a real problem in the colder weather if it freezes.
“It is not a geysir but a steady flow. Many of my neighbours are elderly or disabled and not the most mobile and the diversion already means they have to walk in the road, which is not well lit at night.”
He was told that the hold-up was due to a dispute over whose responsibility the drain was, a situation he likened to a Yes, Prime Minister sketch.
Cllr Bennett said: “It seems to be a question of definition – when is a pipe a sewer or when is it a drain? That’s fine, but it doesn’t get the job done.
“In the meantime lots and lots of water is disappearing each day and when we are encouraged to save it by the water companies it does stick in the craw.”
A spokesman for South East Water said engineers had made repairs two days after the leak was reported. When that did not stop the flow, a second leak was found.
South East Water distribution manager Ann Seach said: “The results of secondary investigations found there was a broken storm drain nearby.
“We have advised Kent County Council Highways, the organisation responsible for the maintenance of storm drains, who will now take over the repair.” A KCC spokesman said the authority was arranging the repair but no date had been set.