Water wasted as Thames Water fails to fix leaks

Alan Franklin, of Apple Pie Hill, Compton, spoke earlier this week of his frustration that a leak in Coombe Road (pictured) had failed to be fixed after two weeks of water flooding the road.
Although Thames Water said an engineer was sent to the site yesterday (Thursday) to investigate the problem, Mr Franklin said the flood is still yet to be cleared.
The company also sent an engineer out to Lip Lane, Wickham Heath, yesterday to investigate another ongoing leak from a pumping station reported by local resident, 71-year-old John Davis, two months ago.
Thames Water spokesman Craig Rance admitted to Newburytoday.co.uk on Wednesday that the company’s failure to resolve this leak quickly was unacceptable.
He said: "We are really sorry for the length of time it has taken to get this repair done. It is important to us to get this leak fixed and on this occasion we accept we could have done it quicker. Our aim now is to get this repaired as soon as possible."
It is not yet known how long it will take the company to fix either of the leaks.
One Newbury resident exasperated by the slow actions of the water company, Ed Madgin, said today: “I am angered at the lack of remedial action on the part of Thames Water.
“If we were to use a hosepipe during the hosepipe ban, we would be given a hefty fine. Why can’t the water authorities be fined per day for losing such quantities of water due to leakage. If such fines were implemented it would surely speed things up.
“It is one rule for them and another for us.”
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