'Devastated' homes are still uninhabitable nearly two months after a damaged water pipe caused massive flooding in a Nottingham suburb. A Severn Trent pipe was damaged by "third party contractors on a construction site building new student accommodation" near High Road, Chilwell, early on Tuesday, March 7, which led to a large amount of water bursting on to nearby streets and homes for hours.
Homes in Gwenbrook Avenue and off High Road were the worst affected, with residents evacuated and roads becoming akin to fast-flowing streams. Those forced to leave their properties gathered at Christ Church Chilwell n College Road, while other residents tried to create makeshift barriers out of bins, tiles, and bags of soil to stop the water from spreading.
Nearly two months after the flooding, some residents are still waiting to return to their homes and no-one has taken responsibility for the incident. ALB, which owns the old Nottingham College site in High Road, which is being turned into 162 student apartments, has repeatedly declined to comment or confirm whether the incident occurred on its premises when contacted by Nottinghamshire Live.
Poll: What's the worst road for potholes? Have your say here
Ken Etchells, 74, was checking his wife's home in Gwenbrook Avenue, where seven homes are still uninhabitable, when Nottinghamshire Live visited the street. She had been forced to live in hotels for a month after the flooding, as a huge jet of water had entered her property's chimney and wrecked the inside of the home and its garden.
"Thankfully everybody on this street I know of is insured and the council tax has been suspended, but it is still devastating and no one has taken responsibility - there should be compensation for those impacted. It has ruined this part of the street, no one is back yet and I think some other homes on Lime Grove Avenue and Audon Avenue are still empty too," Mr Etchells said.
"It went right over and into the chimney and it flooded the house completely - there has been a dehumidifier in here for more than four weeks. We're having to throw out all of the appliances and all the walls are still damp, the pressure of it also smashed the glass garden table."
Steve Wallace, 56, and his wife Debbie, who live in Audon Avenue and run a personal training gym, said they had lost up to £1000 of belongings as a result of the flooding, with their insurance excess too high to justify making a claim. "I was having to use £250 worth of gym equipment to block the water from getting into the house. We were lucky it didn't get in, but it ruined a lot of tools and even paint we were keeping when the garden flooded," Mr Wallace said.
"No one has taken responsibility yet. We have been left out of pocket and the developers have washed their hands of it."
Mrs Wallace added: "The police and fire service you couldn't fault, but the rest have not helped us at all. People have been abandoned and feel very frustrated about the lack of support. We haven't been able to claim for anything because the excess is so high.
"I'm concerned about what they have put in place to stop this from happening again. People think it should have been stopped by Severn Trent earlier too."
In response to concerns it had been slow stopping the water flowing from the pipe, Severn Trent explained a "complex" process was needed to fix the large water main, which carries millions of litres of water a day. It added it was "imperative" to ensure the site was as safe as possible before work could start to restrict the flow, limit the impact of the incident, and start work on the repair.
Wendy Perkins, 60, who had to move out of her home in Gwenbrook Avenue because of the water damage, said: "Unfortunately the houses on the nearest end of the street were affected all the way through as it was coming through the top. We had to have our cat rescued by the fire service, who were brilliant.
"The fact it was preventable and was not an act of god makes it incredibly frustrating. The people working on the site have not done anything to help despite having the resources and skills to do so - the work has started again right away as well.
"The effect on our lives has been horrendous. Our insurers have been amazing though, so I have been very lucky compared to other people."
A Broxtowe Borough Council spokesperson confirmed it was providing a discretionary council tax discount to properties affected by the flood. It added council officers attended the incident on the day, speaking to residents to make sure they had accommodation and helping with some of the clean-up.
A Health and Safety Executive spokesperson confirmed enquiries were ongoing into the incident. A meeting was held by residents at Christ Church in College Road, Chilwell, on April 15, which was attended by representatives from Broxtowe Borough Council, Nottinghamshire Police, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Nottinghamshire County Council, and Broxtowe's Conservative MP Darren Henry.
"The impact to the main caused destruction to many homes, and I have since spoken and met with many of the constituents involved to hear how the incident has impacted their lives," Mr Henry said.
"When I went to the recent residents meeting it was clear that many of my constituents have been left without answers. This is not acceptable. There must be a process in place for accountability.
"Yesterday, I spoke in Parliament on behalf of my constituents, to raise this issue and have called for an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. I will continue to liaise with those impacted, the contractors and local authorities.
"I would like to offer my thanks to all those who helped when the incident occurred, especially Christ Church Chilwell, local councillors and the community." A follow up residents meeting is scheduled for June 10 at Christ Church on College Road, Chilwell from 10.30am.
Are you planning an event for King Charles III’s Coronation? Let us know here
READ NEXT:
Inspector warns students to secure accommodation after rise in burglaries
Neighbours shocked after man found stabbed in 'nice little town'
How empty Nottingham high street has transformed into a 'cool and fresh' destination
11-minute exercise that cuts risks of stroke, cancer and heart disease, say scientist
