Water company plans to bail out (From Your Local Guardian)

Water company plans to bail out

12:39pm Wednesday 7th November 2007 in

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Thames Water has pledged to bail out residents whose homes were wrecked in the recent floods with a plan of action to tackle flood damage.

The borough's water supplier has promised a compensation and prevention programme following July's downpours which it describes as "one in 150 year storms". During the three day deluge, more sewer flooding incidents were reported in three days than are usual in a whole year.

The move follows a meeting with Twickenham's MP Vincent Cable who approached Thames Water on behalf of hundreds of residents affected by sewer flooding.

Plans include compensation payments of up to £1,000 for damage caused by waste water and a £320million investment to reduce future sewer flooding risk where the need is greatest.

Dr Cable MP said: "Many local residents had a terrible experience with the July sewer flooding and it worries me that Thames Water do not appear to have records of many local incidents. Some of them tell me that sewage flooding is a regular occurrence.

"I want Thames Water and the council to work together to make absolutely sure that this doesn't happen again."

Were you affected by the flooding? Do you think the compensation and prevention plans are enough? Contact the Richmond and Twickenham Times newsdesk at rtt@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 0208 744 4261.