Dispute shuts nightclub
A Shrewsbury nightclub has been forced to close its doors after a water company shut off the supply to the venue in a dispute over a £20,000 bill. A Shrewsbury nightclub has been forced to close its doors after a water company shut off the supply to the venue in a dispute over a £20,000 bill. The Buttermarket in Howard Street had its water meter disconnected by Severn Trent on Friday after it accused the club of failing to meet payment plans. But a club spokesman today accused the company of using "bully-boy tactics" and said the matter had been reported to the Ombudsman and watchdog Ofwat. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
after a water company shut off the supply to the venue in a dispute
over a £20,000 bill.
The Buttermarket in Howard Street had its water meter
disconnected by Severn Trent on Friday after it accused the club of
failing to meet payment plans.
But a club spokesman today accused the company of using
"bully-boy tactics" and said the matter had been reported to the
Ombudsman and watchdog Ofwat.
The disconnection meant a gig by Welsh rap band Goldie
Lookin Chain last night had to be cancelled – but the group decided to
search for an alternative venue and managed to secure a slot at Lloyds
in Hills Lane.
The Buttermarket spokesman said the venue would hopefully
reopen on Thursday. He said the club had also paid for a water tanker
to supply water to flush toilets and for other maintenance while it was
closed. Extra supplies of bottled water have also been brought in to
the venue.
He said the issue related to a bill dating back over
three years. He claimed a second-hand meter was installed at the site
with readings unfairly calculated from another customer.
"They (Severn Trent) have treated us really badly and are using bully boy tactics," he said.
"We have reported it to the Ombudsman and he has been
looking into it. We have been up to date and paying our bills for the
last six months, it's just the issue over this past bill."
A spokeswoman for Severn Trent said it would "strongly refute" any allegations of bully-boy tactics.
She said: "We can confirm that on Friday Severn Trent removed the water meter from these commercial premises. This is not a step Severn Trent takes lightly.
"However, this customer is in considerable arrears going
back over a number of years. Although we have tried to help the
customer with various payment plans, none have been adhered to, and the
bill remains unpaid. Removing the meter has been done as very much a
last resort."
Conal Dodds, manager of Goldie Lookin Chain, said the band scoured the streets of Shrewsbury for a place to hold their gig.
By Russell Roberts
