Mains flood causes day of chaos in town centre
Hundreds of homes and businesses were left without water on Friday after a mains burst, flooding the streets with gallons of water and dirt.
Most of the town centre was left with low pressure or no water after the 12-inch cast iron main at the bottom of Pudding Lane, Maidstone, gave way in the early hours.
Pubs were forced to close, hairdressers cancelled appointments, buses were diverted and restaurants shut while engineers spent 12 hours carrying out repairs in High Street.
Kent Police alerted the water company at 1.30am, and workers from South East Water were on site for much of the day – replac- ing a 30-metre section and patching up the road.
Free bottled water was dished out to residents and businesses while the repairs were completed.
Supplies were restored around 12.30pm, and water soon returned to normal after appearing to be dirty at first.
Mark Rice, South East Water’s distribution manager, said his team worked hard to make the fixes, and he apologised to those inconvenienced.
Businesses in Week Street and Gabriels Hill were affected, while shops in The Mall, in King Street, also struggled, with McDonald’s unable to serve drinks, and Supercuts and Jagged Edge salons unable to do washes. Greggs also had to close. Fremlin Walk was not so lucky, with all businesses affected and no toilet facilities available. Most businesses remained open, but food and drink outlets were forced to serve reduced menus.
Sam Chan, owner of SHQ salon in Pudding Lane, said staff worked from a back-up tank in the morning, but afternoon appointments were cancelled due to uncertainty over when supplies would return.
While the restaurant was unscathed, Buddha Belly in Pudding Lane closed briefly to deal with water in the cellar.
Pubs were also forced to shut for the morning, including The Brenchley and The Muggleton Inn, both in Jubilee Square, and restaurants in Earl Street abandoned morning service due to the water shortage.
This was the second rupture in as many months in Maidstone High Street.
A pipe at the top of Gabriels Hill burs at the start of February, leaving water gushing down the road.