Leak left unattended for two months

A water company has failed to fix a leaky drain in a street two months after it was first reported.

Hundreds of gallons of water continue to be lost in Gordon Road in Broadstairs, Kent, when people are being urged to save water because of the prolonged dry spell.

Southern Water is to introduce a hosepipe ban for almost a million households in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, starting from tomorrow.

South East Water has now announced a ban for its customers in Kent and Sussex from next Friday.

Lynn Harrison, who lives next to the leaky pipe, said she has made numerous calls to Southern Water, which also has customers in Kent, but little has been done to solve the problem.

She said: “It’s outrageous at a time when we are being told to save water and a hosepipe ban looks imminent. I’ve certainly been doing all I can.”

The teaching assistant says she first reported the leak two months ago.

She added: “After several calls someone eventually came out and identified it as a leaking stopcock and sprayed the pavement purple.

“But we haven’t seen anyone since, despite pledges to come out and fix it. The water is just pouring away down a nearby drain which is a disgrace. It started as a trickle but seems to be getting worse.

“The pavement now has a green slime on it with weeds growing, which is dangerous because someone could easily slip.”

Southern Water said: “The leak in Gordon Road is now repaired. We fix hundreds of leaks every day (22,500 last year alone) working day and night to detect and repair pipes.”