Burst pipe halves profits at Leckhampton Road store
CONVENIENCE store owner Martin Pashley is demanding compensation from a water company as his takings have been down 50 per cent since a burst pipe closed a main road.
Mr Pashley says his shop, Premier Leckhampton Convenience Store, has had half the usual amount of customers per day since Severn Trent Water closed part of Leckhampton Road on Tuesday to fix a burst pipe.
The 29-year-old said: "On an average day we have about 350 customers, and we have had half of that because of the road being closed.
"We have been down about £700 on takings from normal each day since the road closed.
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"I want compensation from Severn Trent Water because this has obviously cost me a lot of money."
The section of Leckhampton Road beyond the Church Road mini-roundabout junction is closed, with traffic diverted, while workmen repair the pipe.
It burst at around 6am on Tuesday, sending water cascading out and damaging the tarmac and pavement. Mud and debris were swept into a number of surrounding driveways, and many properties were without water or had low pressure throughout the morning.
Mr Pashley and other property owners in the area said the road had been leaking for around two weeks before the pipe burst.
A Severn Trent Water spokesman said: "Work to repair the pipe is being carried out quickly and safely over the next few days and we expect to be able to reopen the road later this week.
"We've also got a team who are working to clean up and repair damage to the footpath and carriageway. We're communicating with affected businesses whilst the work is carried out, to let them know that they can apply for compensation via our loss of profits scheme."
To claim compensation from Severn Trent, businesses must provide copies of accounts and details of sales figures for the past three years.
Around a month ago the same pipe burst and had to be repaired, closing the same section of Leckhampton Road for two days.
Mr Pashley said he claimed compensation for lost profits following the first road closure, and was still waiting for Severn Trent Water to make a decision on his application.
Comments
by Takeaway22
Friday, October 26 2012, 11:45AM
“A water pipe has burst and as any reasonable person would expect, the water company (Severn Trent) has sent a team out to repair it.
To avoid water companies having to have to pay compensation to repair mains water pipes, what would Martin Pashley suggest other than to just leave it?
It appears common sense isn't so common after all.”
by Matt1006
Friday, October 26 2012, 11:42AM
“It's a burst pipe, and needs to be fixed.
It's unfortunate, but these things happen, and it causes inconvenience to put it right. Although, it says the latest burst is on the same pipe which burst a month ago - I'm assuming it's not the exact same spot on the pipe (i.e. the previous repair)? If it is the exact same spot, then ST have some explaining to do. But I'm assuming it's an old main, where the weak spots are identified by a serious of bursts in different spots.....”
by gallopingbear
Friday, October 26 2012, 11:11AM
“It's all very well claiming compensation every time there are road works, but if it sets a precedent and businesses do this often the water boards will suffer big hits, and these costs will no doubt be reflected in the amount each householder pays. You can't have it all ways. Todays compensation culture has a lot to answer for.”