7:30pm Sunday 2nd November 2008
An elderly couple have written to Thames Water to complain “in the strongest possible terms” about a broken culvert the company pledged to fix nearly three years ago.
Terry and Dilys Cale, of Upper Road, Kennington, said they had suffered years of stress and uncertainly following the discovery of the problem in December 2005.
They accused Thames Water of failing to keep them informed about plans to repair the drain.
The breakon drain has caused a series of problems, including the flooding of the couple’s garden.
Mr and Mrs Cale claim the company should be liable for the damage caused by three incidents of flooding since July last year.
The company refutes this.
Mr Cale, 74, who is disabled, said: “It’s been going on such a long time. It’s so stressful.
“We’ve had visits from Thames Water, but nothing happens after that. We want the problem fixed as soon as possible.”
Mrs Cale, 75, said they did not have anybody to help sort out the problem because their three children and five grandchildren did not live locally.
She said: “It has been a time of enormous stress and worry. I know our health has been affected.”
In her letter to Thames Water, she wrote: “I remind you again that I am 74 and my 75-year-old husband is a paraplegic and frequently in poor health.
“Your lack of communication, and our worry about flooding and the damage to our and others’ property continues to adversely affect our health and deprive us of much-needed sleep.”
Mr Cale said: “It gets worse each time it floods.”
Neighbour Iris Lancaster has also complained the drain has causing flooding at her home.
The cracked culvert runs directly under the Cales’ garage, which was built in the 1970s.
Engineers considered digging under the garage to carry out repair work but could not guarantee that the building would not collapse.
Thames Water spokesman Becky Johnson said engineers met Mr and Mrs Cale last week to discuss the company’s latest plans, which would bypass that section of drain completely.
She said work would be likely to take three or four weeks to complete and could start in January next year.
She added: “We will try to meet all the residents who would be directly affected by construction work.
“We will also provide them with formal notices about the works.
“We’re sorry Mr and Mrs Cale feel they have not been kept fully informed and will ensure they’re kept aware of our plans going forward.”
