Burst pipe ends with splash and grab fury (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester burst pipe ends with splash and grab fury

3:42pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in News By Andrea Glennon

AROUND 1,500 homeowners in Cirencester were left high and dry at the weekend after a water pipe burst.

And there has been anger after emergency water supplies, dropped in residential areas by Thames Water, were stockpiled by many who were first to realise what had happened.

Thames Water customers in the Chesterton and Watermoor areas of Cirencester were fuming on Saturday after being left for nearly 12 hours without a water supply.

The company dropped three pallets of bottled water at points around the estates.

But many families still had to stock up on water at local supermarkets after some residents took more water than needed from the unattended pallets.

Cirencester town councillor for Chesterton Roly Hughes said: "I know of one family that took 24 cases of water - it was a free-for-all.

"Thames Water didn't give any warning and didn't tell us about the pallets. It should have been distributed door-to-door."

He said he had been inundated with pleas for help and planned to ask the town council to officially complain.

Thames Water also came under fire from stranded pensioners who said no consideration was given as to how those who were housebound were supposed to collect the water.

Good samaritan Peter Hadland, 64, of Countess Lilias Road, distributed water to older residents on the street.

"I suffer from heart and kidney problems but I still went and collected about 15 cases of water so us pensioners could take our medication," he said. "We were left high and dry and I thought it was absolutely disgusting. We are vulnerable people."

Thames Water spokesman Natalie Slater apologised for any convenience caused by the burst 12-inch water main in a field by Cotswold Avenue.

"Our engineers were out within an hour of receiving the first call and worked really hard throughout the day to repair the pipe and had the water supplies back on by 6.30pm," she added.

"While we appreciate we could have done more to monitor the drop-off points for bottled water, it is disappointing to hear that some people took more water than needed."

She said the bottled water had been delivered to three locations at around 2pm, which was publicised on the company's website and through its call centre.