Any tips, Thames Water, to stop sewage entering our homes through your incompetence?
This is Cllr Rossi's letter to Thames Water following the catastrophically bad meeting held in The Town Hall on 11.10.
Not one mention of compensation and much empty talk of TW giving 'assistance' to residents. What could that be, Cllr Rossi?
No doubt Thames Water are quaking in their boots.
Mr George Mayhew
Corporate Affairs Director
Thames Water
20 October 2021
Dear Mr Mayhew,
I am writing to you in my capacity as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to set out the conclusions and recommendations of the committee members after the extraordinary meeting of 11 October 2021. I would like to thank both you and Mr Hagger for attending.
The meeting was arranged to give residents the opportunity to ask questions and share their experiences of the flooding on 12 July 2021. Representatives from Thames Water and Ofwat were invited to attend the meeting to hear from residents and councillors. I have set out below the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
• At the meeting residents described their experiences on the evening of the flood, the days afterwards, their current circumstances, and the state of their homes. I consider that it is essential for members of the Independent Review to hear those residents to understand the full scale of the flooding and its dreadful impact on them. I have included below the link to the recording.
Extraordinary Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Flooding - 11 Oct 2021 - YouTube.
The timeline for the Independent Review Report was raised by residents and councillors and, at the meeting, you suggested this would be the end of April 2022. I would like you to confirm in your response to this letter that this is indeed the end date. However, I consider that it is not acceptable for residents and businesses to wait until the Independent Review outcome to get assistance from Thames Water. Thames Water should consider any assistance that they require following the flood.
• The Committee would like you to provide an update on the progress and initial findings of the Independent Review for its meeting on 16 December 2021. Thames Water will be invited to another meeting of the Committee early in 2022.
- Residents complained that, during the flooding event, if was difficult to contact Thames Water by phone and email. I acknowledge that you agreed with our residents in that point and said that Thames Water had taken immediate action to solve this. However, I would like to reiterate that it is essential for Thames Water to improve its contact procedures.
- It is clear from events and experiences described at the meeting that the sewer capacity is not equal to the task. This was well known by Thames Water for years and not enough has been done to address it. In your response we would like you to commit to an increase in sewer capacity. Climate change will only increase the likelihood of severe storm events and we want our residents and businesses to be protected against them
I look forward to receiving your response to these recommendations.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Marie-Therese Rossi
Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Dear Dame,
ReplyDeleteA mealy-mouthed letter, conciliatory, letter.
Rossi does not want to upset Thames Water. Hard to imagine Mackover writing a similar letter.
No mention of the Council providing the funds so that residents have the benefit of an opinion from a Queen's Counsel ADVISING on Thames Water's contention that they are not liable for the losses incurred by residents.
Thames Water must be quaking in their boots after getting this.
ReplyDeleteMona Rossi loves every opportunity to sign letters as "Chair, Overview and Scrutiny Committee". Gives her a super charged hot flush. But this letter is more box ticking, genuflecting and flicking the forelock. A very worn velvet glove.
ReplyDeleteThe Councillor needs to find the iron fist. Get legal opinion on grounds to go after Thames Water for damages to resident properties. And dip into the Hornton Street piggy bank and rattle the cage.
For once in your life, Miss Rossi, DO SOMETHING USEFUL and make a difference
Shortly after the flood, the Colville ward councillors arranged for 3 Thames Water representatives to visit me. I asked their senior person: "I've lost my home; what is Thames Water going to do for me?" Thames Water's manager responded: "Nothing!"
ReplyDeleteAt the Town Hall meeting, complaint forms were handed to the residents present. I immediately filled mine in and at the end of the meeting, I handed it to one of the Thames Water speakers. He said he'd pass it to the appropriate people. I have received no response.
Water companies are fined hundreds of millions of pounds for dumping their sewage in rivers. What is Thames Water's punishment for dumping their sewage in my living room?
Councillor Rossi. Scrutiny; what scrutiny? Rather than a polite letter, at the very least residents are entitled to RBKC funding a specialist QC's formal Opinion on their legal rights in this matter.
Marion,
ReplyDeleteYou have my heartfelt sympathy; not that sympathy is going to help to restore your home.
Councillor Rossi's performance over this matter is lamentable.
I am convinced that Thames Water's attempt to deny liability is not an authoritative exposition of their legal position. I am further convinced that if a decent legal opinion were obtained by RBKC residents would find they were in a much happier place than has been suggested by Thames Water.
You have been treated disgracefully by Thames Water and a gutless shower in hornton Street.
So, Rossi, in her foolish letter makes this statement.
ReplyDelete"It is clear from events and experiences described at the meeting that the sewer capacity is not equal to the task. This was well known by Thames Water for years and not enough has been done to address it"
She is accusing TW of not having adequate capacity: that sounds negligent to me. She goes on to say that TW has known for years there was a capacity issue yet has done nothing. That reeks of negligence.
I was at the last meeting. I heard one official of Thames Water say that Councillor Rossi was a "pussycat."
ReplyDeleteMy home is ruined.
DeleteRossi is more of a hindrance than a help.
It might help if Thames Water cleaned the sewers they do have more often and the likes of RBKC contractors Conway were stopepd from sweeping soil and left over wet cement down drains when they are working as has been witnessed many times
ReplyDelete