Martin Newton, Lib Dem councillor for Fortis Green, is demanding answers as to why residents in the area were left without water for over 12 hours on Wednesday, with many local restaurants and shops forced to close.

Following a water mains burst at approximately 13:30pm, Thames Water were phoned to report the fault. The company said it was aware of the problem and that it would take ‘some time to fix.’

After returning from a meeting, later that evening, Cllr Newton again phoned Thames Water around 22.15pm to ask about progress, and what emergency procedures were now in place to cater for vulnerable residents given this was still unresolved. Thames Water responded that they had a register of vulnerable people who would receive some alternative source of water, and the problem was due to be fixed by midnight. However, supplies were not restored until around 02.30am.

Cllr Newton is concerned that there seemed to be no measures in place to look after vulnerable residents, both young and old, who were not on Thames Water’s own register.

Thames Water said they would be grateful to have details of any vulnerable residents that were known to Cllr Newton so they could arrange assistance. However there seems to be little evidence of attempts by Thames Water to inform residents or businesses of the problem, or to provide some general stocks of bottled water. This, Cllr Newton says, is unacceptable, especially as Thames Water was aware that the problem would take many hours to fix.

Cllr Newton says that these problems were further compounded by a power failure on the Broadway. He says he hopes that Thames Water will address some of the concerns he has raised immediately.

Cllr Newton (Fortis Green) comments:

“It is not acceptable that vulnerable residents and businesses were left without water for this length of time. The additional power failure over parts of Muswell Hill Broadway, forced many shops, including the Post Office, to close at this busy time of year. Shops and restaurants not only had to close, but the cut in electricity supply, may have seriously affected refrigerated and frozen stock.

“I hope that Thames Water act on the issues I have raised so vulnerable residents can be reassured that everything possible will be done next time Thames Water cut their water supply.”