It only took 10 days – yes, a full 10 days – for Thames Water to fix a leaking water main on Chelverton Road at the High Street junction by the bus garage.
The leak first appeared last Friday, with water cheerfully bubbling up through the pavement like some sort of urban water feature nobody asked for. By the weekend, dozens of residents had contacted Thames Water to report it. The response? Five more days before work finally began.
In the meantime, temporary three-way traffic lights were installed, adding yet another layer of congestion to Putney High Street’s already impressive collection of roadworks. Pedestrians were treated to an impromptu long-jump competition over expanding puddles, while thousands of litres of water simply gushed into the gutter.
By Monday night, the leak was finally fixed and the water stopped flowing. Small mercies. Though there’s still a substantial hole in the pavement and a impressive mound of silt decorating the gutter, awaiting the utility company’s next visit.
Just another week, another dig, another disruption on the High Street. At this rate, we’re going to need an archaeological survey before they’re done. The situation really is draining – in every sense of the word.
