Liberal Democrats Slam Southern Water for Lack of Investment in Mains and Sewers

5.01.10pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 26th Mar 2005

Commenting on the burst water main in Grange Park, Hedge End, Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne, who is fighting the Eastleigh parliamentary seat at the general election for the Liberal Democrats, said:

"I find it astonishing that a facility that is barely twenty years old should have failed so spectacularly, creating a mini-tsunami for many homes in the area and also removing the whole district from water supply in order to stop the leak.

"This burst main highlights once again the unacceptable way in which Southern Water has imposed a large increase in water rates - 16 per cent this year alone - without putting in the basic infrastructure that local residents are entitled to expect.

"I am writing to Southern Water to seek assurances that they will properly maintain the network and provide whatever investment is necessary to ensure proper and safe supply" said Mr Huhne.

He also said that he would ask Southern Water to compensate fully the householders who had suffered flooding as a result of the burst main, so that they need not lose any no claims bonus on the home insurance policies.