Council could 'insist' on Thames Water meeting

A water company will be invited to a council meeting after a series of burst water mains, sewage leaks and a project delay due to water issues.

Swindon Borough Council wants to request - or even "insist" - Thames Water come to a committee meeting in June to answer questions on several problems.

Most recently, there has been a three-day closure on a major route - Mead Way - due to a burst water main.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has approached Thames Water for comment.

Councillor Neil Hopkins said at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting: “I think it would be useful to have someone from the company come here.

"There have been so many Swindon residents affected, their travel plans have been put out because of what appears to be a lack of maintenance of the mains," he explained.

Mr Hopkins also mentioned sewage leaks into local waterways and that "there have been delays to the Fleming Way Bus hub project which are attributable to Thames Water."

The large Fleming Way project is planned to be finished by the end of summer 2025.

However, the council’s cabinet member for finance Kevin Small said: “It all depends on whether Thames Water begin the necessary work this year. If they don’t it’ll slip.”

He added that the council was not able to recover the costs of delays from the water company as that was not allowed in law.

The chairman of the committee, Councillor Dale Heenan, agreed with Mr Hopkins’ suggestion, he said he was "supportive of using the statutory powers of this committee to insist that Thames Water attend.

Mr Heenan said it would be a good topic to put on the agenda for the committee’s meeting of June 17: “I think giving Thames Water three months’ notice is enough, but we shall see what they say.”

Thames Water has been appproached for comment.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.