Enderby EYE

the village ...and beyond

Mains leak causes early morning havoc in St.John's

20 July 2010

Residents and businesses in the Enderby St.John's area were alarmed after a water main burst and flooded their properties.

Early yesterday homes, gardens and some business premises found themselves under up to a foot of water.

Affected were Kelly and Co Solicitors, Palmers Gardening Centre and several homes.

Severn Trent Water told local media the cause of the leak was unknown but it could be the result of natural ground movement.

Residents told the Leicester Mercury they were woken shortly before 4am by police.

The paper reports Mark Tipton, 45, as saying:

"I went out into the street and the road was like a river. My whole garden was flooded.

"My main concern was that it would get into the house so I started to move things upstairs and off the floor."

Tess Kelly, principal solicitor at Kelly and Co Solicitors, said her firm would be closed until at least Wednesday as a result of the flooding.

She said when she arrived, shortly after 4am, the water outside the front door came up to her calves. She said: "I felt sick when I took the call.

"Two of our four computers have gone, every carpet is sodden and there is so much that we will have to replace.

"It will cost thousands of pounds, I am sure."

Palmers Garden Centre closed for the day after it was left under about two inches of water. The car park was left covered in dirt and debris.

Centre managing director Caroline Palmer told Leicester Mercury:

"We do not know at this stage how long it will take to get things back to normal.

"It is not the worst disaster that could have happened but it is something we really did not need."

Severn Trent Water said the burst main was reported to the company at 3.20am and an inspector was on scene at 4.55am. The pipe was shut off at 6.30am.

A company spokesperson told the Mercury:

"Nineteen properties were without water while we carried out the repairs.

"We apologise to both the residents and businesses for the inconvenience caused.

"We endeavour to get to every job as quickly as possible and carry out repairs as quickly and safely as possible.

"There is no reason to suggest it was anything other than ground movement. Our infrastructure is ageing and sometimes this does happen."

Homes and businesses were without water for about four hours.

Associated links

» Leicester Mercury

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Mains leak causes early morning havoc in St.John's