Thames Meeting: This Tuesday

One thing we didn't write about a couple of weeks ago was the inquisition of Thames Water at the Maida Vale Area Forum, particularly over the flooding earlier this year.

Thames spent over an hour being questioned over their current approach to a number of issues in Westminster North. There was some pretty heavy questioning from local residents and the local flood action group about what they intended to do about flooding. We also spent some time taking them to task about the repeated failures of pipes under Kilburn High Road in the last eighteen months (as well as correcting them on their assertion that the Victorian Mains Replacement works had gone smoothly in Maida Vale - something a little bit at odds with reality ...)

It is fair to say that many in the audience were not terribly convinced by Thames comments on the flooding issue. We raised the issue of both Kilburn Park Road and Shirland Road residents who had been affected by this - Thames position seemed to boil down to the fact that they can't breath without the permission of the water regulator, Ofwat, and they will need to talk at length with them before anything can be done. This was likely to include many months of evidence gathering.

After the meeting we requested from Thames more detailed information about what they can and cannot do without Ofwat's permission. It should make an interesting read and we'll let you know as soon as we receive it.

In the meantime, Thames are also appearing in front of Westminster Council's Built Environment scrutiny committee this Tuesday (1st December). The meeting starts at 7pm - so if you want to go along and watch the grilling, please do. It will be held in City Hall, Victoria Street.

Lee