Thames Water Manhole Mystery?

Thames Water, the Environment Agency and Herts County Council are searching records to establish ownership of a manhole, according to The Herts & Essex Reporter. Flooding closed Stortford’s Stansted Road leaving two vehicles stranded, it is not the first time that this road has been closed, due to heavy rain.

Thames water are hoping that a concealed cleaning pit will be the key to solving flooding in Stortford’s Stanstead Road… East Herts District and Herts County Councillor Colin Woodward and his Conservative colleague Cllr John Barfoot, put on the pressure to find answers.

Thames Water cleared 90m of pipe, removing tree roots and debris to try to resolve the flooding, after three years of the problems. Councillor Woodward has reported that representatives of Thame Water, BT and NRSWA inspector discovered that the manhole water was escaping from was “actually a cleaning pit for access to a culvert which originates at the rear of the houses in The Bourne and goes across the road towards Dolphin Way” According to Councillor Woodward, there are no records of the manhole being a cleaning pit, the assumption was that it was a utility manhole.

Thames Water, the Environment Agency and Herts County Council are searching records to “establish ownership of this asset as this appears to be unclear” For all you manhole detectives out there, a real mystery just waiting to be solved!

Yorkshire Water property development arm plans to build nine homes in Harrogate.

Save Harlow’s View campaign group is encouraging residents to lodge objections to Yorkshire Water’s planning application for nine houses after they submitted new plans, according to the Harrogate Advertiser.

Initial plans for thirteen homes were withdraw following a huge backlash with over two hundred people objecting to the plans. Mike Brockhurst, a well-known hiker who runs the Walking Englishman blog, said “we think that everyone in the area just thinks, “What is the point”, it is going to happen anyway”. Mike has a lot to say on this subject, you can read more on the Harrogate Advertiser’s website. To summarise, he states that “There is a real feeling among people who live in the Harlow Hill area that the west of Harrogate is being swallowed up by the town”.

Peter Garrett, who is the managing director of Keyland Developments, (the property arm of Yorkshire Water), said “The original application was withdrawn for technical planning issues which have now been resolved. We have been working closely with the Council on the revised scheme, which is significantly smaller than the original”. A David and Goliath story, watch this space…

River Thames in September

Ending on a happier note and for the second year running Totally Thames celebrations have a number of watersports and activities on dry land planned for west Londoners right on their doorstep.

Thames Tidefest 2015 is a new River Thames event to highlight the recreational importance of the Thames to Londoners. Thames Tidefest 2015 takes place at Strand on the green, Chiswich and at other locations along the Thames Tideway.

Tidefest is to be a partner of Totally Thames and to be supported by the Thames Tunnel Now Coalition, Thames Tideway Tunnel and Thames Water. Dates and events can be found on the Thames Tidefest 2015 website. Totally tongue-twisting.

Mike Salter the organiser of Tidefest, (Martin is from the Angling Trust) said “This is an event that keeps on growing and which aims to help reconnect Londoners with their river” He further states that: “This the Thames holds 120 different species of fish and is home to a tremendous array of birds and other wildlife, yet far too few people are aware of what an amazing resource we have on our doorsteps. Most of the events are either free or offered at a substantially reduced rate according to the Tidefest website.