Another rant

Well, in one day …

Thames Water are now sending out a second crew to dig a second hole in order to locate the stopcock.  I asked that when the crew get here they check in with us, so we can make sure the van doesn’t block resident parking areas etc, and to just say hello.  ‘They won’t be talking to you, they don’t talk to customers” I was told.  Oh, that’s alright then – by all means come onto private land, park where you like, inconvenience who ever you like, do what you like for as long as you like.  Why would you think that it would be at least polite to make contact with the residents when you arrive?

Then Epsom and Ewell Borough Council regarding the waste bins.  I’ve already asked for additional food waste bins for the neighbours, this request needs ‘checking’ for reasons I could not have properly explained to me by the customer service department.   I then receive an email that they are doing the bins switch (for their new scheme) and that staff have already been on site to check what can be done.  Can we talk to anyone about this?  I ask.  No, we don’t talk to residents about this – all the flats are different and if we spoke to everyone it would take too long (I paraphrase).  So you did not factor that issue in to the delivery programme and roll-out of the scheme then?  Clearly not.

Is it just me?

The era of stupid

We’ve lost the mains stopcock at the flats.

I call out Thames Water to locate it.

A chap turns up and draws a blue line round an area.

A crew turn up and dig a trench.  They are unable to find the mains pipe which I am told means they cannot find the stopcock because they have to dig back from the mains pipe in the trench to find the stopcock.  They are not able to dig beyond the blue lines drawn on the ground – a new chap needs to come out and draw new blue lines in order for a new crew to visit and dig a new trench.

Today I see a van and two chaps from Thames Water outside the window – I ask them what they are doing.   Filling in the hole they say.  But we have not found the stopcock yet, I say.  No, we are nothing to do with that, we just have to fill in the hole, they say.

I ring Thames Water.  I ask why the hole is being filled in when it may very well have to be re-dug that area to find the stopcock.  Customer Services is equally baffled and has passed on all details to the our job project manager, who is to call me back with details of when we will get new blue lines drawn and a new crew to dig a hole.

Finally, the crew filling in the hole left behind the plastic guard rail that were left up to warn people about the hole.  Presumably the removal of these rails will require another crew to visit.

This is a complete waste of time and effort, quite apart from the waste of money.   Our water charges include the cost of running this nonsense.

Exasperated of Epsom!

 

Water Shortage

Whether we end up with a hose pipe ban or not, it doesn’t hurt to be careful with our use of water, especially if you are using a meter.  Anyway, tips from the Thames Water website.

1. Fix leaking taps – if you can’t get the plumber in, let the drips go into a bowl and use the water for the kettle or other uses – don’t just let it go down the drain
2. Don’t leave the tap running to clean dishes or vegetables
3. keep a jug of water in the fridge so you don’t need to run the tap until it gets cold
4. always run the washing machine on a full load
5. make your garden ‘drought tolerant’ – a garden centre will be able to recommend plants that need less water
6. take shorter showers – Thames Water recommends 4 minutes long – the average shower uses 10 litres of water per minute
7. turn off the tap when brushing your teeth
8. fill the kettle with only as much water as you need – this not only saves water but saves energy too
9. use a bucket when you wash the car

Hosepipe ban?

Sutton and East Surrey Water has just announced that water levels in boreholes are not rising and remain well below average for the time of year.   The reservoir that serves parts of Morden is 74% full.   This all means that we could be faced with a hosepipe ban this year.

Government U-turn on water bill – social tariffs welcome

Millions of people could pay less for their water bills after the Government backed down on proposals for new social tariffs tabled by the Liberal Democrats.

Ministers promised to introduce new social tariffs, after the Liberal Democrats put forward a clause into the Flood and Water Management Bill that could cut the bills of the poorest customers.

The Government’s U-turn came last Thursday (21st January) at the final Commons committee stage of the Flood and Water Management Bill.  The Government ‘conceded the principle’ behind the clause proposed by the Liberal Democrats and promised to come back with their own proposals.

Only 24,000 customers currently benefit from the Government’s WaterSure schme that provides assistance to vulnerable people with their bills despite estimates by Defra that as many as 300,000 households could be eligible.   Primary legislation obliging water companies to offer new social tariffs could cut the bills of millions of people struggling to pay their water bills.

I am delighted by the Government’s U-turn on this issue.  With so many pressures on family budgets, it is right that we take action now to protect the most vulnerable customers.

The Conservatives opposed this measure.   It speaks volumes about how Tories would behave towards our poorest citizens if they ever get into Government.