Money in the pipeline for flood victims

8:22am Thursday 28th August 2008

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Residents whose homes were wrecked when water pipes burst and flooded their properties have just won their battle for compensation.

Houses in Warberry Road and Cumberland Road in Wood Green were ruined in February when Thames Water increased the pressure running through their pipes, causing them to burst.

In one house the ceiling collapsed and landed in a baby’s cot, narrowly missing killing the child. Other residents experienced varying levels of flooding.

Thames Water, who had been replacing the Victorian water mains in the area, had increased the water pressure without warning.

Now after a seven month fight, Thames Water has given in and will pay compensation for the damage caused.

Jacqueline Howley, a Warberry Road resident, was not the worst affected but she said it has been a nightmare for everyone.

She said: “Some of us got leaks and some of us got floods. There have been all sorts of problems.

“First of all I had a flood, which went right through the cupboard. After that I got a leak in my bathroom. Thames Water tried to blame us for having old plumbing. They said to us to go to our insurers for help.”

Mrs Howley called a plumber who had to put pressure reducing valves on all her pipes, which cost her £150.

She added: “The ridiculous thing is that where you’re got Victorian water mains, you’re going to have Victorian plumbing.

"I'm appalled that with no warning Thames doubled our normal water pressure level. Thames then told us they were not surprised when we experienced floods and leaks because everyone's plumbing was so old, yet they had not even told us they were changing the pressure. How many other people are going to incur this problem?”

Thames Water has agreed to pay compensation on an individual basis as a “gesture of goodwill”.

MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone, is urging people who are having problems to contact her.

Ms Featherstone said: "It is a complete outrage that Thames Water has been so slow in compensating these residents for obvious damage caused by them. After turning up the pressure myself, I’m pleased to have got a result for local residents.

“Clearly Thames Water should have warned people of the increase in pressure so precautions could have been taken - it would have saved local residents and Thames Water a lot of time, money and hassle."

Any residents who have experienced similar problems as a result of the replacement work should contact Lynne Featherstone's office on 020 8340 5459.