Residents win apology from Thames Water over stingy compensation

Cllrs Jonathan Bartley and Scott Ainslie: emergency supplies

Thames Water have apologised to Streatham residents for short-changing them on compensation when they went without water for up to three days in March.

People affected by the loss of water supply  on 3rd March were entitled for compensation of £30 if they were affected for between 4 and 12 hours, rising to £150 for up to 72 hours.

Thames Water short-changing residents on compensation

Jonathan Bartley and Scott Ainslie distributing water in March

People in Streatham whose water supply was cut off for four days in March are being sent compensation of just £30 - just a fraction of the £150 they are entitled to [1].

Newly-elected Green Party councillors for St Leonard's ward Scott Ainslie, Jonathan Bartley and Nicole Griffiths are challenging the company on this. Meanwhile, they are urging anyone affected to write to Thames Water using the following template:

Greens support residents over water tanks eyesore

The Green Team's Nicole Griffiths and Cllr Scott Ainslie are supporting residents in Conyers Rd, who have been shocked by the size of new water tanks errected opposite their homes.

The size of the new storage tanks at the Thames Water treatment plant on Conyers Road are much bigger than residents had been led to expect from drawings shared with people before their construction.

With the residents, Nicole and Scott have been looking at the latest proposals from Thames Water to plant green screening around the site.

Scott is also working with other ward councillors to propose that Thames Water should fund a wider tree-planting programme in the area to compensate for the eyesore caused by the new water tanks.

Water leak on Tooting Bec Gardens

There is a water leak coming from under the kerb outside 35 Tooting Bec Gardens. The water is running right down the road as far as the junction with Garrad's Road and Ambleside Avenue.

We have reported it to Thames Water, and asked for it to be fixed as soon as possible.

Leak on Fernwood Avenue

There has been a significant water leak from the pavement on Fernwood Avenue for at least six weeks, which Thames Water have failed to repair. We reported it via the #tweetaleak hashtag on twitter on 24th July and again on 2nd August when the leak had become much worse.

We have subsequently been contacted by local residents who have also asked Thames Water to fix it several times. Thames Water say they aim to repair leaks within 15 working days. They have clearly failed in this, but also failed even to update local people and let them know what is going on.

Local residents have been particularly poorly served by Thames Water recently, having been left without water on several occasions over the last year. The water main around the corner from Fernwood Avenue, on Mitcham Lane, has also had to be repaired on several occasions.

We are now pursuing it directly with Thames Water as a priority, and will be raising it with Consumer Council for Water, the body to which Thames Water is accountable. It appears that the job was closed down by Thames Water in error. The job has now been reopened, and they have promised us that an inspection will be made this morning. We have asked for an update following this morning's inspection.

[Update: 16/9/13 We have been told that Thames Water will begin the repair today]