2,000 residents had no water for approximately 24 hours, starting in the early hours of Friday morning, due to a number of burst water pipes across Cranleigh.

Most residents will be aware of the burst water main on Barhatch Lane.  The road was closed for the day in order for a large tree to be removed before workers could fix the burst.  It also affected an overhead power cable and residents on Amlets Lane reported a power cut.

Barhatch Lane Burst Water Main

Thames water Van on Barhatch Lane

There was another burst pipe on Homewood, just off The Ridgeway, affecting 28 properties, where residents suffered from some external flooding.  Thames Water also reported it was working on a pipe on Bloxham Road affecting 13 properties.

Finally, there was another report of a burst on Wyphurst Road which affected 50 properties.

Cranleigh Civic Society is investigating this matter further with Thames Water assisted by our MP Anne Milton.

We have been highlighting water supply issues with Waverley Borough Council for some time and have been successful in calling for Thames Water to request Grampian Style Conditions against new housing estates. This means that development shall not be commenced until impact studies on the existing water supply infrastructure and sewerage network have been submitted and approved by the local planning authority. We also expect that developers will have to contribute towards any upgrade work.

We have serious concerns about Cranleigh’s water supply infrastructure and aging pipe network and will continue to investigate this matter.