Nelson residents protest over 'little river' near homes (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Nelson residents protest over 'little river' near homes

9:40am Friday 30th July 2010

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RESIDENTS have hit out at United Utilities for not fixing a leaking water pipe which is creating a ‘little river’ close to their homes.

Mohammed Ashraf said the leak seems to be coming from a pipe at his end-terrace property in Berkeley Street, Nelson.

And it is causing pools of water to form in the cobbled alley behind Brunswick Street and next to his house.

He said engineers had visited the site but hadn’t fixed the leak and told him residents would have to arrange for the work and foot the bill.

The water firm said the leak could be underground on the internal common supply pipe, which is jointly owned by the 17 householders on the stretch, and the suspected location makes it difficult for engineers to access it.

But Mr Ashraf believes the firm should be more keen to fix the leak, regardless of where it lies, in light of the hosepipe ban.

As a result of the leaking pipe, large pools of water appear in the alley even when it has not rained for days.

In addition, Mr Ashraf said hardly any water at all runs from the taps in his house.

Cloverhill councillor Eileen Ansar is supporting a residents’ campaign to have the leak fixed by United Utilities.

She said: “It seeps down like a little river coming from beneath the houses.

"It’s a disgrace that they won’t fix it. They pay their water rates, so it should be repaired.

“We have a hosepipe ban at the moment and yet they are not going to do anything about this.”

A UU spokesman said engineers would re-visit the site today in an attempt to pinpoint the leak.

He said: “After early inquiries, engineers believe the leak is probably underground on the internal common supply pipe, jointly owned by the house-holders.

“We believe the leak is under a house on the street, not easily accessible.

"Further leak detection work is required to pinpoint the location.

“Our free repair service is only possible if the leak is in an open space that we can get to.

“If this one is under a house, a different solution will be required.”

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