An independent inquiry launched earlier this year will now focus on whether an automatic flood alleviation systems could have spared people from the damage to their homes.
THIS IS REQUIRED READING for any victim struggling to understand what happened to cause them such misery
Thames Water has always tried to wriggle out of the blame by making two claims:
1. That the rainfall was unprecedented.
2. That surcharge into the Thames was not possible because of river levels.
We now know that surcharge was possible. Tidal levels at 5.00pm, the time of the flooding, had fallen to near-normal levels.
Alex Nickson of Thames Water has more or less admitted his company was to blame by saying that once the severity of the storm was known 'a technician was despatched' to open the Lots Road gates and activate the pumps.
As soon as the pumps were turned on water drained from people's basements almost immediately.
This leaves Thames Water open to claims of negligence
ReplyDeleteIt would not even need to be automatic: a system whereby it could have been turned on remotely rather that the senseless idea of a man having to travel to the site to activate. We now need to know where the engineer was based and the time that elapsed between the decision to activate the pumps and actual activation
ReplyDeleteEven big companies make mistakes. But this is where insurance is supposed to kick in. Affected residents need to start a class action which should be funded by RBKC, Hammersmith and Westminster Councils.
ReplyDeleteThe Bayswater Action Group is the most high profile and switched on of the Action Groups that I have seen. RBKC, with MP Felicity Buchan and Cllr Rossi is pathetic. Buchan does most things in private and seems only to be interested in getting personal exposure. Rossi, unfortunately, is worse than useless.
For a start, the Action Groups need to start talking together.
Great opportunity for dizzy Campbell to step in and make a fuss on behalf of residents. But this useless Leader does not understand leadership
Deletedizzy is worse than useless. She is a rodent
DeletePlease, enough of this or you will be barred
ReplyDelete"As ever, the Dame is correct. The severity of the July floods were NOT a natural event, but due to Thames Water’s systemic failures and total negligence on the day.
ReplyDeleteWeather forecasts at the time repeatedly warned of flood risks; but Thames Water failed to put basic precautions into action and then failed to act to minimise the damage.
Consequently, thousands of London homes were flooded with TW's sewage. Many victims have no insurance, because they can’t afford it.
As ever, RBKC has retrospectively leapt into “action.” There’s a dedicated new officer to address flooding issues. There will be meetings, consultations and paperwork aplenty; but will we see any substantive action? History is not encouraging.
Flooded & Furious”