A garage owner in Sheppey, Kent, is facing customer complaints and safety concerns due to a persistent water leak outside his business – but it’s not his responsibility.
Luke Stephens, who runs A2 Tyre Supplies, has been dealing with the issue for 19 months, with customers blaming him for not fixing the issue. The leak has caused the pavement to deteriorate, creating a dangerous hazard for pedestrians.
One customer complained of slipping on algae build-up and losing control of their pram, resulting in ankle pain. Another customer expressed concerns about the safety of walking on the damaged pavement.
Stephens has made numerous complaints to Southern Water, but the company has been unable to resolve the issue. Southern Water has attributed the leak to groundwater draining from Southdown Reservoir.
Stephens believes the water source is likely a freshwater source due to the presence of chlorine in the water, as confirmed by tests conducted by KCC.
KCC has carried out temporary repairs to the pavement but acknowledges that the leak is the responsibility of Southern Water to fix.
The ongoing issue has negatively impacted Stephens’ business, as customers have mistakenly blamed him for the unsafe conditions. Stephens emphasizes that the responsibility lies with Southern Water and that he has made numerous attempts to address the problem.
Southern Water has apologised for the inconvenience and stated that they are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
Source: Kent Online
