Shropshire Star

Severn Trent bosses defend digging up Shropshire roads

Severn Trent Water today defended its record after complaints that its workmen have dug up roads in south Shropshire without warning.

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The water firm said that works in Bishop's Castle and Ludlow were unavoidable because workmen were reacting to sudden leaks.

It follows complaints about the roadworks and the disruption they have caused.

Severn Trent said it was looking at the situation to see if it could have acted in a way that worsened the impact on residents and motorists.

But company spokeswoman Sarah-Jayne O'Kane said the work had to be completed quickly in order to maintain supplies.

She said: "In order to protect our customers, our communities, our workforce and our services, we sometimes, unfortunately, need to close roads to get the job done."

Councillors have claimed the company caused major issues after needlessly shutting roads without proper consultation.

Heather Kidd, Shropshire Councllor for Chirbury and Worthen, said several areas in Bishop's Castle and Ludlow had been affected in recent weeks.

Severn Trent said it had been forced to take drastic action to carry out emergency work.

Councillor Kidd said: "I came home one evening to find the road through Chirbury shut.

"No-one had been consulted. Not the community, public transport companies or myself.

"Granted, two leaks had been detected but no thought or effort had been taken to alert key road users such as the school bus people or the community at large.

"Severn Trent's contractors responsible for planned repairs in my area work well with communities but their emergency teams are hopeless. In other areas councillor colleagues have had problems across the board with both."

Richard Huffer, Shropshire Councillor for Clee Division, said many residents were annoyed by the actions of Severn Trent Water after closing roads in Bitterley and Caynham with little notice.

Sarah-Jayne O'Kane, spokeswoman for Severn Trent, said the company was taking time to investigate different ways of working, to avoid road closures and lessen any impacts further.

She said: "However, emergency jobs are often just that – emergencies. Our customers' water supplies may be at risk or sewage may be escaping in the local area.

"In these circumstances we need to react and respond quickly and often don't have the time to engage with the community or our stakeholders as much as we'd like to. We take health and safety responsibilities extremely seriously."

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